Has anyone had a DC go into year 7 knowing no one else?

Happened to me. Made some wonderful friends, still close now at 40.

Dc1 is starting in September and knows nobody. We had a Parent Meeting two days ago and the teacher who is in charge of transition said they keep a close eye on the ones who come alone during the transition days and make sure to step in and buddy some up if needed.

Yes, both my children did (different schools to each as well). Ds went from home ed to a grammar school where he knew no one; dd went from a primary to an independent girls school, whilst all her classmates went to one of about 3 local comprehensives.

They both made friends quickly. It also gave them both the confidence to move again for sixth form - dd knew one girl (who hadn't been her friend) at her new sixth form, ds knew no one. They're both very confident and adaptable.

It can be easier when you know no one - if you know a few people you're tempted to stick with them, even if there are others who might be a better fit for you. It's a completely fresh start if you know no one and you can assess the lie of the land, work out who are your types without the pressure of having to stick with people you know.

Interestingly, knowing one girl at the new sixth form actually hindered dd. She started off the year hanging out with her and 3 friends the girl had made, until Oct half term, when she realised they were a bit bitchy and she really didn't want to be friends with them. Distancing herself and making new friends was a bit stressful, although she got there within half a term. She'd have been better off knowing no one.

Not my dc, but me !
I'm still friends with my secondary school friends, 40 years after we left.

All of my dc went to schools where there weren't very many at all that moved to the same secondary school, and the school deliberately split up people from the same Primary into different forms, so that everyone was starting Yr 7 in classes where the pupils didn't know each other and weren't in groups which might then exclude others. It is very normal. Even where dc do move up with some friends, friendship groups commonly change at secondary school.
My dc 3 moved up with 2 friends and they all started off walking to school together, but - without any falling outs - they drifted apart and the close friendship group she left Yr 11 with were all people who had gone to different Primary schools.

Yes DS started secondary and didn't know anyone. The school had a special afternoon for those that wouldn't know anyone. He also made a couple of contacts at the introduction day and met up with them during the summer holidays. There are a couple of main feeder schools, but the secondary school makes sure that the children from those schools are split into different forms.

He's now in Y12 and has a really good group of friends.

yes, it happens all the time. used to happen even more often when there was a nationwide grammar/modern school system.

This was me too many years ago! And I was a shy awkward nerd but I was fine!

The teachers paired me up with another kid who was in same position but we didn't get on, I don't think forcing friendships like that tends to work. However on my first day I met the person who is still my best friend today! Yes people initially hung around with others from their primary but by the end of year 7 all the groups had shifted. Definitely nothing to worry about!

I didn't know anyone when I started secondary school. Some of the others did know each other from primary, but they weren't necessarily friends, and friendship groups rearranged themselves anyway.

My top tip would be to be friendly to everyone, but don't worry too much if it takes a bit of time to find his real tribe. I did make friends, but I didn't meet the girl who was going to become one of my closest friends until near the end of first year/yr7. We were in different forms and got talking in the playground one lunchtime. We were in the same form the following year, and were part of a big friendship group across two forms.

DS went to à school at the last minute. Literally 2 days notice so straight into it. And it was joining a school in year 7 which had a junior school so loads of existing friendships. Daunting but he was fine. I think the school worked hard to integrate him.

Mine loved it - reinvented themselves. The school had a special briefing for new starters who didn’t know anyone - there were about 40 students there! So much shifts after primary that even those people starting with a crowd of mates might not stick with them. I do think it’s helpful to have met a couple of friendly faces beforehand because that very first morning of hanging around/not knowing where to go can be quite emotional. Also good schools have a decent induction programme to support these situations.

Yea it will be the same for us

Yes both of my elder children had this. My eldest really struggled and I actually ended up moving him to a different school. DS2 made nee friends really quickly. Think it depends on the personality of the child to how well they'll cope.

Yes my son and he’d experienced low level bullying previously for being bright. He’s now 24 and has a really good set of friends from secondary school. It did take time, he wasn’t miserable but acquaintances are different to friends and it took a while to establish good friendships.

This was me 30-odd years ago. I'm still super close with people I met that first week.

And when I started uni, I had no nerves about knowing no-one. After all, I'd done it at 11.

This happened to my son. He met 3 boys whilst doing an introduction day at the senior school before the summer holidays. They are all 18 now and still firm friends.

Two of my three children went to a different secondary schools than their peers from primary.

It was fine, secondaries take children from loads of different primaries and often those that came from the same school aren’t even in the same tutor group or classes. They make new friends really quickly even though they think they won’t.

Yes, both my DC. It’s quite common where I live.