How to be organised in Y7?

I would agree with PP who said house key on long (concertina, light) chain which stays attached to inside of bag. My DD walked home in Y6 and let herself into house (I was working and came home about an hour later) - definitely worth doing this in summer term of Y6 to help them get used to it.
We also used plastic/concertina folders for different subjects and I supported her in Y7 with helping her get bag packed the night before. But gradually - at the pace that suits the DC - you need to encourage them to organise themselves.

We put a key safe in the porch when DS1 started secondary. It has been really useful. He unlocks the door, then puts the key back ready for the next day.
With covid there isn't so much to take to school, which is a relief.
DS1 has a box in his bedroom for school related stuff, so it's easier to find in a hurry.

We have had lots of logins and passwords to remember, it is definitely worth having them all written down somewhere that can't be lost.
For us books are stored in a hanging set of fabric pockets on their cupboard door and their bag gets packed for the next day every night.
Timetable on the bedroom wall as well as in their homework planner/diary.
Mine does have a door key and it hangs on their pinboard above their bag. They still forget it occasionally but luckily only have to wait for me to get back from collecting their younger sibling.
If they have lockers at school it's maybe worth having two pencil cases & calculators with one set staying at school and one at home so they don't get forgotten.
If possible do the homework on the day it's set, saves having to do a marathon session on the weekend.

House key and bus pass attached to bag on long chain.
We have individual a4 envelope folders.
Routine - morning and after school.
Print off timetable stick a copy in the house and one inside locker.
Pack bag night before.
Check planner several times a week at first.
Homework routine - mine choose their own time but I kept a close eye on it at first.
Down time is needed too but they need to learn how to have a good balance.
Sometimes they have to fail in order to realise how to manage.

DA is in Y7, but at middle school and “moved up” for y6.

There is a lot less paperwork than you might expect. A lot of work is set and done online. Make note of any passwords! DS has a ring binder and plastic pockets, but he doesn’t really use it.

DS has a lot of Alexa alarms about when to leave I’m the morning, what to take with him etc

He’s actually been ok with the moving between lessons scenario, although this has been minimal this year of course.

House key is in a safe box in the back garden.

Yes to the house key, I got my DD a foolscap sized wallet (bigger than A4 is handy if you can find one) that zipped shut and had a pocket on the front to hold an A4 timetable. All the loose bits of paper ('knowledge organisers') get put in there so they can be found during lessons.

Homework was set via Show My Homework, parents can also get access to this and see what is due. Pack the bag the night before. Make sure they have a map of the school handy, as it can be difficult to find your way around it at first.

We have a plastic basket for school books, so empty out the bag each night and pack the ones you need. Luckily for us, the Food Tech teachers tend to put the ingredients needed on SMHW as well so we get some advance notice!

My DD's school do encourage the parents to help out at first, making sure the bag is packed the night before (I lay out uniform as well) and keeping an eye on homework at first. DD has a homework timetable which details which subjects they may get homework set on for each day, it's not really something I refer to but it is supposed to stop them getting three pieces of work with the same deadline and it does seem to work.

Oh yes as a PP said check their food tech requirements way before!

You'll probably get all sorts of apps and links with notifications that really help them/you to keep on track with it all.

Oh the house key thing, we're both in when he gets home (and collect him actually) so no need, but we have a safe spot outside for a key so on the rare occasions he's needed it. Same when the youngest starts in September.

Also I print his timetable out once a week and fold it in such a way that each day is on a small square, he can slip into his blazer pocket.

I bought one of those concertina type a4 file holders and put the books/papers in each section. To be honest I'm still his secretary and he's in year & now! Keep trying to get him motivated to do it himself. He's brilliant with organising his own homework but packing and unpacking his bag... 🤷‍♀️

Another thing DS does, he has a copy of his timetable stuck to his desk in his room and another copy in his blazer pocket. The original one stays in his homework diary

Plastic popper wallets for each subject and label each one. Check their bag each night, ready for the next day. If they have a door key, make sure it's in a safe place in their bag and not likely to fall out! Make sure they have a small amount of cash in a safe place in their bag for emergencies. If they have a phone, make sure it's charged and they have a charged battery pack as a back up.

It seems overwhelming at first, but quickly it all becomes habit/part of life!

House key - yes. My dc had a key in juniors as I worked in a school and was often home later than them (like 20 mins) so they walked home. I'd be tempted to try this now for Yr 6 summer term.

There will be lots of good advice but I would say, phone is useful, lots and lots of black pens, timetable on fridge, check re tech (it can rotate leading to sudden demands for food ingredients at 10pm).

No - but they improve as the year goes on

Mine has a lot of his homework by email - so we’ve set his email up so I get a copy . I don’t intervene unless I feel he might have too much and need help prioritising it

No house key - but mostly as I pick him up on the outskirts of town ..we are rural