About to start year 7?

Teacher here with adult DC.

Packed lunches most definitely don't go in fridges! Hell, even teacher ones don't unless you fancy a trek across the site in the rain to collect it.

Our school has had kids coming in PE kit on the days when they have PE and wearing it for the full day for the last year. They are seriously considering keeping this going as it means less chance of kit going missing and longer time for PE as they don't need to get changed. So there's no need for lockers full of minging PE stuff. Ours all get a locker but some need a padlock. Most of my y8 tutees didn't bother using theirs this year.

Schools are once again expected to be testing pupils from September, like we did in March. It might be worth getting some LFTs to practice on. We were handing out boxes of them every 3 weeks since just before Easter. I have no idea what will happen going forward.

To the poster who mentioned Casio calculators on offer, I am going to disagree slightly. Our school recommends particular calculators and sells them at cost price. In lessons, the teacher only has to explain once how to use a particular function if they all have the same model. Before getting the cheap one, check to see if there is one they recommend.

Smart phones were coming out when DD1 was in year 7. She had a pink flip phone in y7 which was fine for texting/calling - no WhatsApp in those days. Her birthday is late July so for her 12th birthday she got her 1st smartphone, a Samsung. Now almost all kids have smartphones, but a surprising number of older kids either don't have any data allowance or use it up very fast. One of my tutees was not allowed any sort of phone by his parents, much to the astonishment of the others (who are quite sympathetic). When we were doing Covid testing in March, lots of y12 were unable to log onto the .gov site on their phones as they had no data, and hardly any of them knew how to scan QR codes - I was very pleased that I knew more than they did!

I would definitely get them to do a few LFTs to get used to it if they haven't done one yet. We are testing our Y7s twice in school and then they will have to continue twice weekly at home as before until the end of September when the government is reviewing this requirement.

I wash blazers weekly but I know many do it far less.

And yes to a locker if it's available.

Packed lunches dont go in fridge. Stay in bag or locker.

Our shcool has said 2 covid tests before return in september. I assume that will be the same elsewhere?

Washing blazers!? Once a term here.

Packed lunches don't go in a fridge.

All schools are being asked to lateral flow students twice before they return including year 7 so you could order some to practise the swabbing at home.

I'd try and knock the washing on the head. Blazers get washed half termly on average (based on questioning a lot of kids!). Some weekly but majority half termly or if they got really dirty/wet. Think of the blazer more like an over coat.

Is the washing daily due to covid? If so maybe he could have 2 and isolate each one for 24hrs and alternate rather than washing?

I imagine home made school lunches go into a fridge?

I very much doubt it! They didn't at either DD's primary or secondary - we used freezer blocks, though they tended to have school lunches.

Another question - I wonder if I should get some home testing kits now so he knows how to take a covid test?

You could do, though I'd imagine they would 'teach' all the y7s if testing is still required then.

I am assuming you can machine wash blazers too. He likes to wash all clothes every day

You can machine wash blazers. Personally though I'd teach him that blazers do not need to be washed daily, that seem OTT to me (but I'm not a wash towels after one use kind of person either). Taking badges on and off daily would be a right pain.

Thank you TeenMinusTests we will order a locker! Good to have a dumping ground I think.

I imagine home made school lunches go into a fridge?

I am looking at a retractable key ring attached to school bag - as I can imagine my son losing stuff.

Another question - I wonder if I should get some home testing kits now so he knows how to take a covid test?

I am assuming you can machine wash blazers too. He likes to wash all clothes every day - and I guess with stinky teenagerville coming around the corner - that won't be a bad thing.

He does not have any special needs but covid and crime are causing a bit of anxiety, but hoping with covid it will improve and crime we will put some strategies in place.

lettuce At DD's school most of the tutors tended to let them dump PE kit in a cupboard in their room. though I suspect that kind of thing is very school dependent.

We did lockers for PE kit as it saved lumping it around all the time or forgetting it, and then DDs just brought their shirts home to be washed - maybe not so helpful if you have a full rugby kit needing cleaning anyway. Also a useful place for dumping coats in the day time in winter. Or if you do an instrument or need a laptop etc. They only cost £5 per year so wasn't a great outlay, again very school dependent.

Probably more useful for those walking or cycling than those going by bus or car.

Top tip about having a spare pencil case.

Also the secondary school is offering lockers, it is worth taking this up? Does this mean you could leave a set of say sports gear in the locker?

I am also planning to set up a dedicated work space at home for homework as currently my son just sits on the sofa to do any work.

UncomfortableSilence that is such a helpful post, top tip about heading into a safe place like a shop.

I agree you never know how you will react. Before the times of mobile phones I was at a library studying and some older boys from a different school made me aware that a guy was wanking to porno magazines right behind me and had been following me.

I could not move as I completely froze - thankfully that bunch of kids were pretty good and they came and sat with me. I did not tell my Dad until I got home, even though he picked me as I was too embarassed!
I was also in shock and was surprised that I just froze and couldn't move!

My sons just finished year 7. He had a dreadful ending to year 6, no leavers party, assembly, school photo or induction to secondary. He has loved year 7 though. They certainly hit the ground running, some allowance was made for lateness due to getting lost on the school grounds but apart from that he was expected to have the right equipment for each lesson and to be correctly presented and polite. He always got his bag ready I the evening for the next day, made his own lunch in the morning, set up show my homework on his phone, I also have it on my phone just incase. Phones are allowed at school but must be off, he leaves his at home as we live 5 mins away. The one thing that stuck out for me is how independent he got very quickly, you never hear from the school unless they are in trouble, and I did struggle with this as son wears hearing aids and uses radio aids at school so the lack of involvement was un nerving, but he's had a fabulous year 7, so his report says and he is really looking forward to year 8.

@RevolvingPivot

I have no idea where the bag thing comes from, but no less than 3 different teens from 3 different schools told us that before DS started last year, then he confirmed it is indeed the case! Apparently obviously designer or obviously expensive bags are “trying too hard” (see point #3) and too big is “just cringe”

The gender changing thing seems to be mostly limited to names and pronouns (I was surprised to see one of the transboys in DS’s form still wears a skirt). According to DSS only those who are serious about it continue past Y9/10. Prepare for a confusing year of learning and re-learning names though!

Thank you! I will gently push her towards wearing a crop top. She’s quite sensitive and would be mortified if anyone said anything!

Parents of girls, please send them in with a period pack including sanitary towels. We will happily provide stuff but I know students find it really embarrassing to ask, especially if they are new to school and don't know who to ask.

In the school where I work, all the female toilets, staff included, have boxes of sanitary towels in every cubical. But I expect this is rare.

Definitely crop top. Lots of arguments that it shouldn't be necessary etc however they will all have something and you wouldn't want her to be left out. Quite a few wear vest tops.

SockMonster I'd be tempted to insist on a crop top.

@TheSockMonster I started secondary school in the early 00s, so things may have changed and others may disagree, but one thing I remember is that every girl was wearing a bra when getting changed for PE, and it was just the norm to wear one, so I'm afraid your DD may stand out for not wearing one. It was quite a contrast from Year 6 for me when only a handful were wearing them.

@TheSockMonster

I was going to comment on point number 2 thinking surely you mean the opposite then I noticed point number 4. 😳😳

*2. School bags mustn’t be too large or obviously branded/very expensive or your child will get teased

1. A lot of the girls will change gender in Y7. Apparently this drops off after Y9/10.*

We didn't get an induction day yet - that's now going to be on the first day in September, but we do have a meet-up planned via WhatsApp form group, and we'll probably invite the form to ours later in the summer. He hasn't even set foot in the school since 3 years ago when we viewed it for his older brother.

DS started Y7 last year and I have DD starting Y7 (at a different school) in September. I also have a DSS in Y12. What I have learnt:

1. As far as DS knows, everyone has a smart phone and uses WhatsApp

1. School bags mustn’t be too large or obviously branded/very expensive or your child will get teased

1. It is important not to look like you are “trying too hard” to be popular. No one can tell me exactly what this means, but apparently it’s important

1. A lot of the girls will change gender in Y7. Apparently this drops off after Y9/10.

1. I told my (naturally prone to disorganised) DS that I was not going to monitor or remind him about his homework. He missed 2 then pulled himself together and manages it himself now. The feedback at parents’ evening was that he organised himself well(!) and that his homework is always to a good standard. It seems benign neglect is a valid parenting strategy here!

My question - DD has to wear a plain white shirt as part of her uniform. All the ones I’ve seen look fairly thin. DD is flat chested but with very obvious and sticky-outy breast buds. She doesn’t want to wear a crop top/vest/bra so they’ll be fairly obvious. Will she be teased if she does this?

Pencil case for school bag and a separate one for home, so the school one never gets left behind.

For parents: At our school they had to bring in food tech ingredients. Think how they will transport 1 egg or 200ml of milk (I found Sistema pots useful). Also, at our school you sometimes only got 3 days notice of what was required...

I picked up the following tip before DC1 started secondary. Expect to need to scaffold support more than you have in Y6 (assuming a normal level of independence already), check they have got everything, ask what lessons they’ve got that day so they mentally run through what to expect, make lunches, top up accounts etc. They are working so hard on learning the rules, faces, names, routines, that you need to back off in other areas/reduce the workload if at all possible.

re Phones.

Easier to set rules and relax them later than to have a free for all and then impose rules.
A smart phone with things blocked (or you as account holder who has to add password to download apps) is probably 'better' than a brick. Does not need to be new or pricey.

re Organisation.

Some children will be able to pick this up very quickly and happily organise bag and homework without help after a week.

Some children may need more scaffolding all the way to half term.

A few children (who may turn out to have hidden SEN) will need ongoing scaffolding and assistance for a long time. My DD1 who turned out to have a disorganised version of dyspraxia needed help with bag and scheduling homework etc well into y9 and beyond.

Do the journey in the holidays until it becomes 2nd nature (something less to stress over)
Prepare them for homework every night and at the weekend - can you set aside an area to keep school books with table space and a socket for laptop?
Decide where PE kit etc is going to live and make sure that's where it ends up.
Pack school bag the night before - print out timesheet and stick on wall near study area.
Encourage and support your child at secondary and try to look at setbacks as learning experiences so they become resilient and prepared for life (... being unfair).
Please don't be that mother that is constantly contacting the school - choose your battles very carefully.
I'm in favour of openly monitoring their smartphone (but some think this is intrusive) and explain about online safety - this will be covered in yr7 - and encourage them to share any friendship concerns with you.
Accept the fact that 99% of their day will now be their business and sometimes you'll just get a grunt when you ask about it! We learned not to pester when they got home but that at bath and bedtimes they were more communicative.

My best tip is to start a non-negotiable shower-in-the-morning routine. That way, by the time they get to the stinky teenage years, they are entirely used to the routine and therefore no negotiations needed.