Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

DS is starting at an all boys grammar school on the 3rd Sept. He can’t wait, his bag is already packed and hanging on his wardrobe door. The last few weeks of the holidays seem to be going sooo slowly!

My DS isn't socially awkward but he's an old head on young shoulders. I think that might be a struggle at High School.

alliejay81
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My DS is exactly the same, tiny for his age a little socially awkward and not into the same thing as most 11 year olds. Hes never left the house alone before, going to a school a 20 minute walk away. Im so nervous for him. Hes not even interested in having a phone.

My ds is starting Year 7 in a special school about 40 mins in a car. It was only confirmed on the last day of term so he's not really had any transition work.

Hi. I’m not sure if an Apple Watch would be allowed. Doesn’t it need to be near a phone to work? Also it would be instantly recognisable as one. I was thinking of a GPS device either in a watch format or something like that. I have spoken to the school and they didn’t back down. I presume it’s to do with children being mugged for phones and/or cyber bullying so I recognise the reason but to not even allow a dumb phone seems a bit extreme.

This is what the phone policy states:

The possession of the following items by pupils at, or travelling to/from school is banned: ...... mobile phones....

So glad I found this thread. My DD starts on the 3rd and the first two days are Y7 transition only, so I'm hoping it will quell the nerves she has about starting. She knows the school pretty well after a few visits ahead of us choosing where to send her and are a few of them going from her primary and she makes friends easily and is sociable, but she also gets very anxious about new experiences and I think next week could be a bit of a rollercoaster! I'm intrigued to read that many of your DC already know what form they'll be in and what there timetable is – we don't know either yet!

My message was supposed to be in reply to the parent talking about her son travelling on the tube!

Could he perhaps get away with wearing a smart watch which you can call or text him on instead of having a mobile phone?

I've heard of some pretty strict school rules in my time, but that one is bordering on absurd! Are you sure it's not just that the phones should be switched off/out of sight/handed in whilst the kids are on school? I'm not sure a school has the authority to decide what goes on before and after a student is on site, as how would they enforce it?

Ooooo, glad to have found this. My eldest starts in year 7 on 7th. He can't wait, I'm bricking it on his behalf. He doesn't know many people yet as we moved to the area last summer and then Covid. I think he'll be fine as he's a nice kid (biased) but can't help feeling anxious. It's not been the best lead up to it really has it?!

I’m a Hoy 7. If that helps anyone

DS1 is starting on Wednesday 2nd - just for a short Y7 only induction session before a full pastoral day on the Thursday.

I think we have all the required kit sorted - he is my PFB so I am taking advice from some of the Mums with older DC about what is absolutely essential vs. what never gets used. I’m glad as it has meant we didn’t get some of the absurdly long list of kit for PE - everything else has cost a ridiculous amount when I add it all up.

We had 2 booklets with a fair amount of transition work for English and Maths - did anyone else have similar and did it get done?

One of my twins starts in 12 days, he won't know anyone, but is eager to make friends with some boys he meet on a zoom call the school arranged,. unfortunately the other twin still hasn't been allocated a school and there is no plan for him as yet

Hi

I have a DS starting year 7 at a boy’s school on the 4th. Like others it’s more of an induction day. He has to travel approx 45 mins by tube so hoping to come with him or drive initially. The school is incredibly strict and no mobile phones of any sort allowed on the way, in or on way home from school. This aspect concerns me a lot given how unpredictable the tube can be. The reason for him being at this school is because it’s very close to my new job and we are planning to move as soon as we are able. In the meantime, the phone situation is stressing me somewhat. The school does bag/locker searches too. I wasn’t aware of the mobile phone policy before we applied; was our third choice school. DS is the only one going from his school but hoping there might be 1 or 2 others from our area going. It’s a good school and we are happy he got in but the rules are a bit eye watering. I’m considering declaring bankruptcy after buying the uniform. It’s not that the individual bits are that pricey (mostly JL), it’s just the volume of things e.g. pe kit and rugby kit etc. The start times have also changed and he will start at 8.15am. Will be a shock for me as I was used to getting out of bed at around 7.50 for primary school.

I was also going to say isn't the 4th Friday? My nephew has his birthday on the bank holiday Monday, and then DS2 starts on Friday - year 7 is in for 2 days before the rest come in - I think it's 2 days rather than 1 because they haven't been able to do the stuff they normally do for the new intake - DS1 had a week's summer school in July 2018 before starting, and they had a testing day.

@MichonnesBBF The 4th is the Friday not Thurs - best check which day it is!

Good news is Ds likes his trousers. Less good is he likes them so much he keeps wearing them out in the woods and gets them filthy... at least they're cheap and I can get more.

My eldest starts secondary on Thursday the 4th.
She is nervous and wishes she was back in Reception 🤣
We are nearly sorted but skirts have been a nightmare to buy 😤
Although a lot of her friends are going to the same school there is only 2 in her form group.
She is very happy about this though and has admitted to looking forward to making new friends.
Me...i am a bag of emotions (not showing her though) flipping from being exited and proud for her to nervous because as adults we know what other kids can be like in a not so positive way.🤨

Must add he is also tiny for his age which doesn’t help

Cani join. We have a very young for his age year 7 boy starting on the 3rd. He is very very awkward socially but desperately wants to fit in. Doesn’t like any of the usual things eg fortnite, football etc and has never walked anywhere on his own before. We started to prepare him for walking home after Easter but then lock down happened. He won’t go further than 10m away from us since lockdown. Am desperately worried

I’m slightly jealous of the children going to school so close to home, but I suppose it’s part and parcel of living semi-rurally.

No uniform sounds great too. One less thing to worry about.