When my 16yo was in year 7 he had a paper planner in the form of a little notebook, to record his homework. A year or two later the school rolled out an online homework application, so kids and parents could see all the homework set. The school still handed out paper planners the following year, but I don't think they were used much. Eventually they ditched them completely. Have most other schools gone down the same route? I'm asking because now my youngest son is in year 7 and one of the other mums is making a big fuss about the fact that there is no paper planner, and the fact that her son might need to remember login details. I know it might be difficult for some families if they're not tech savvy, but surely this the world we're now in and the sooner kids learn to use tech in their daily lives the better. (And of course, she could just buy him a planner herself if it's such a big deal 
).