Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

Is anyone else having trouble with trousers this year? DD’s on the small side but we only ever sized down and were ok but this year nothing looks right - M&S and John Lewis slim legs ones looked massive around the hips, Next does a slim waist + skinny legs with looks great but they are obviously skinny and I’m not sure they are allowed. Argh! I think a trip to Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s is needed.

Oh can I join in please! My youngest is about to start yr 7

We had an email today that they will be encouraging masks in communal areas where others are not in their bubble - eg, corridors. I have some bandana-type ones that you wear around your neck and pull up when you need to cover your face.

They also confirmed they will be getting co-curricular activities up and running as soon as possible but are waiting for guidance on music ensembles - which is of my DS's main things, so hoping they start up soon.
DS is bouncing off the walls with excitement!

I wondered that about the SATs/targets. DS's school had two entrance tests, and the primary school did mocks in February, so they have a fair bit of data, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do their own testing. I feel they probably should anyway really.

DD’s school isn’t requiring face coverings (yet), but she will need one for the bus. We bought a set patterned ones a while ago and she will be wearing those. I asked if she wanted to pick something else but she said no.

Thanks for the hockey clarification - girls play volleyball in my country!

Hockey isn't played on grass any more, astro turf! Trainers are fine.

I've got lots of cheapo plain face masks from Wilko

What sort of face coverings are you getting your DC? I don't know whether to get plain or patterned! We have some that we wear to the shops, etc. but DD is going to need more as school has stipulated 1 for the bus and a different one for around school.

Can I join please? DS is starting year 7 on 7th Sept and is very excited. I think we have pretty much all we need and have done two trial bus runs this week. A couple more next week and then hope to goodness it all works OK due to the bus companies running at reduced capacity and "no standing" due to Covid. Not sure they'll all get on!

He's going with 7 others from his primary and is in a tutor group with one other, who he doesn't get on with especially well, but is very keen to make new friends. He got his first choice having taken and passed the 11plus but decided against grammar. I hope it's the right decision -time will tell I guess...

We will be doing CATs for our new y7s, but no testing at first as we want to focus on settling and pastoral. I think we are aiming for around October.

I'm already liaising with the school nurse to get the sex Ed sessions that were missed in y6 done in our school.

They are black..school doesn’t stipulate a colour. He said he’ll wear them now so phew! Thanks for the links..I could spend a fortune on bargain trainers haha. @KangarooLady

What are schools going to do, production wise, seeing as our children didn't sit SAT's?

@ShakeaHettyFeather I thought they might, thank you - I did google but got conflicting information. DD is actually really deflated about PE, as she’s quite sporty but doesn’t like any of the girls’ options. She said she’d rather play rugby - she weighs less than 30 kg so that would be interesting .

Fingers crossed for the free travel to continue, it’s so unfair to remove that when people are struggling.

@tywysoges Hockey players wear football boots - they're running on the same muddy fields.

Ds has trainer-like shoes from Shoe Zone as he won't wear any others (ASD), and thankfully the school said any black shoes and trainers are fine. They set for PE only in the first term so he'll be in the self-chosen 'would prefer to be anywhere else' group focusing on getting them any exercise at all. If he ends up walking to and from school to save money (free bus travel is being revoked in Oct unless Boris changes his mind) then four miles a day with steep hills will be good for him!

Can I join too? Have DS starting Y7 on the 2nd. Got his choice of school and it's very good but no one else from primary is going, it's not a straight forward bus journey and there doesn't seem to be a school bus. It would prob be about 50 minutes walk. Think I will end up driving him to start with and we'll see if things change when Covid issues subside. He's excited but I am trying to not show my worries that he will be on his own a lot to start with. I do hope he makes some friends. He's great but doesn't do a lot of the football, Fortnite type things as @897654321abcvrufhfgg said earlier.

DD refused new trainers for PE , hers are a pair of black Skechers. Her list also includes football boots but, according to last year’s subjects book, girls play hockey and netball. Hockey is not popular at all in my home country, do they use football boots for it, or just normal trainers? Not that it matters because DD plays football out of school so needs boots anyway but I’m curious.

Thanks OP.
Ds2 very excited. Starts Thursday, at Same school Ds1 was at until he finished his GCSE's recently.

Hi all, can I join? My ds is going into yr7 too...currently struggling with what trainers for PE. Does it matter what sort? He has a brand new pair of under armour but he wants nike!

My DD is starting at a huge school from a one form entry primary. About half her class are going but she’s the only one in her form group. Doesn’t seem to mind.
She’s definitely socially awkward and doesn’t like meeting new people. She is looking forward to the lessons and seems to be in denial about the social side.
She’ll have to be independent in leaving the house and coming home but it’s only a five minute walk from school. She hasn’t asked for a phone but we’ll get one so she can text me when she’s home. I’m hoping to change my hours a bit for a while so I can get home early (won’t be before her though) and WFH for a few hours in the evening.
Not sure the idea of homework has hit her yet. Also not yet sorted for stationery (although she’s got enough to start a shop really).
No transition stuff really due to Covid, but I think she’ll take it in her stride.
Also no sex Ed was done at primary school so, although I thought I’d talked to her openly over the years, it turns out I need to do some...

On pens I bought DS1 a variety of types of pens - he settled on the ones which are my favourite as well - Pilot V5s I think. If your DC settles on a favourite stock up a little, but also a good idea to put a couple of BICs in the pencil case as back up or so DC can lend tp a friend in need but not give away the pricy pens.

Oooh DD has to be at the bus stop for 7.30, she wasn’t even awake at 7.30 for primary school (bus pick up time was an hour later...)

My Ds was small but apparently has long arms and has grown, so I've just ordered the next two sizes up of shirts from M&S, and more trousers. Still need track suit bottoms and pens and calculator, a brick phone, and to get ds going on a bus on his own. His school's phone policy is they mustn't be seen on the premises unless in KS4 when they may be used in certain lessons. So for KS3 they recommend bricks to avoid risk of theft etc.

It could all go brilliantly, he could be in floods of tears every night (have had both in last 4 years). But having to leave the house by 7.40 is going to be murder for all of us!

@KangarooLady DS has uniball signo tsi pens which are erasable!

@KangarooLady, DD picked some fountain pens on amazon but I bought a box of Bic too - I quite like them myself which is why I bought them, I asked DD but she didn’t have a preference so I just went with one I know...

Another member of the small children club. DD is using some of her primary school uniform but it was a mix of grey and black, so I bought one pair of slim fit trousers - which I now need to return as they’re enormous on her. Not sure if I should go for skinny as skinny is not really allowed but surely it’s only if they look skinny? Has anyone found slim fit that are proper slim?

@NDSandG that is very strict - a GPS tracker sounds like a good idea.

We don’t have forms or timetables yet, we’ve been told the children would only find out when school starts.