When did leaving primary school become such a big thing?

I left primary school in 1990 and my memories are a bit hazy. There was a residential. We all got a thesaurus that was signed by friends and teachers and spent a lot of time putting together a school magazine. There was also a show though I can't remember if it was the whole school or just year 6 who did it. There was probably a disco. I remember being excited but also quite nervous about the transition to secondary school - it's a big change.

I think some parents really go to town judging by some of the things I'd seen on social media, for example making bunting using photos taken at school over the years and special iced 'last day of school' biscuits.

I left primary in the mid 90s, and I don’t actually remember anything about the last term / few weeks of it!
I know we did a Year 6 play, and I vaguely remember my transition to secondary school day. Pretty much everyone from my primary moved to my secondary.
I think we were fairly soon after the transition switched from Y7/Y8 to Y6/Y7.

There’s no problem - I was just trying to do the maths because I’m the same age as you 😊 Clearly I should have tried harder!

It's a new century and things are different from 70 years ago.

I left primary school in 1987 and there was no fuss or celebration. A one form primary and everyone went to the same massive 10 form entry secondary. The transition was fine!

But we didn’t know any different. Children grow up faster. And parents are much more involved with schools these days. I do think it’s lovely to celebrate but it was a big build up, events all week, children in school 3 evenings and the leaver’s assembly Fri afternoon. Some of the kids were openly sobbing throughout the assembly and I felt like a calmer less dramatic week may have been wiser.

I left primary in the early 80s, we were 4th year then rather than year 6. There was a 4th year trip away for 4-5 days in the summer term but I can't remember the last day at primary school at all, I don't think there was anything special. No leavers' disco, no special assembly, no transition days. In the school holidays my friend and I walked up to our new high school together with our mums so that we knew where to go and how long it would take to walk there from home, but that was all. We weren't even told our form groups in advance, we didn't find out until first day of high school.

I left primary in 1989 and I think we had a wee visit to the big school but that was it.

Teachers were on strike early 80’s so all residentials and trips were cancelled.

Early 80s. We just left. I'd never been to my high until the day I started.
My primary years were dull. A far cry from primaries today.
No trips ever or residentials etc I don't remember my last day except walking out. We almost all moved to same RC high.
Primary learning is now fun. But
SATs mean that Yr6 now effectively finish once they are done. My DC had weeks of projects, trips, productions and all sorts. The leavers events were very special.
DC are going to maybe 8 different schools
Apples & pears

@sorrynotathome Yes, I've just turned 60. I had (delightful) surprise DS in 2008. He left primary school at 11 ie 2019. He's just about to turn 15.

What's the problem? 🙂

Getting pregnant at 45 isn't unheard of?

I wasn't bothered about leaving primary school but I'd only been there a few months. It was my fourth primary school and there was no bond really. We had a leavers party in the hall with traditional food and games. For secondary we had a disco and buffet at a local hotel. No prom dresses, limos etc. just non uniform. There was a mass (Catholic school) and shirt signing on the last day. I found the shirt a few months ago when I was tidying the loft. My DC had leavers assemblies from primary school. DS2 got a teddy with a commemorative t shirt. DS1 hated school and refused to go to any leavers stuff for secondary so I don't remember what they did. I have it all to come again soon(ish) with DS2.

Yes you are, because you’re quite happy to go along with the sneery posts - I don’t believe for a moment this is a wide-eyed innocent “just asking a question”, you want to give people an excuse to have a pop. I don’t know why grandparents don’t look to their own parenting if they think current parents are doing such a shit job.

perhaps you’ve just forgotten? Or your school was unusual? Transition days, leavers assembly, school disco, teacher presents have all been around a very long time…

My grandchildren had a mortar board cloak and diploma when they left🙄

I don’t actually think many parents are that bothered. It’s mostly nurseries doing it - I suspect a critical mass started doing it and so the others felt they had to. You can say “each to their own” but parents don’t actually get a say in whether a nursery does “graduation” or not.

I left primary in the 90s, we had a big leavers assembly, plus a leavers disco in the PE hall. I can’t remember if we did shirt signing, definitely did that in secondary school though.

I think when teachers realtors lots of kids never go to parties, or get rewards, or feel part of the community - same as transitions days - some parents don’t take their children to the information evenings or meet the new teachers - schools taken over where parents won’t engage.

My school and nursery didn’t do this, but lots did a ‘graduation’ even for reception class, with caps and gowns 😂. I just think it looks odd and a bit tacky imo, I mean, they aren’t ‘graduating’ from anything really? Lots seem to love it though and each to their own!

Not sneering just a genuine look at it. Some things have improved some things seem a bit overblown and Americanised. I hadn't heard of nursery graduation till last week.

We went round getting autographs and had an assembly where the top year came and sat at the front and each other year moved back, meant to signify your new start at high school. That was it, parents weren't invited. This was late 80s. I'm not traumatised by it.

I went to primary school in the 90’s and we signed each others shirts and had a leavers assembly, we also had a transition day to the comprehensive ‘feeder school’ I remember going…