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Original poster

12.5kg school backpack no lockers

163 replies

PalmLady · 07/10/2024 16:32

My son's Y7 back pack with only the absolute necessary items weighs 12.5kg. There are no lockers for them to use. This seems excessive to me? My son only weighs 35kg himself.

OP posts:
BlackOrangeFrog · 07/10/2024 16:48

Brownsauce83 · 07/10/2024 16:43

My daughter’s bag is similar. Interesting how many people are assuming that all schools are the same and that pupils don’t take laptops or textbooks! Many, many do.

What's is she putting in there every day that weighs so much?

Brownsauce83 · 07/10/2024 16:43

My daughter’s bag is similar. Interesting how many people are assuming that all schools are the same and that pupils don’t take laptops or textbooks! Many, many do.

WetBandits · 07/10/2024 16:43

What could possibly be in there that he needs every day? I take less than that on holiday!

BlackOrangeFrog · 07/10/2024 16:43

Norfolkbound · 07/10/2024 16:41

If they have to carry a laptop around that is a lead weight before you put anything else in (and the bag has to be more substantial in order to carry a laptop). Bloody tech!

Ok, let's assume 3 kg for a laptop..
Where do the other 9.5 KGs come from??

Is the boy carrying all his text books around the whole week, instead of swapping in/out as needed for each day?

BloodyAdultDC · 07/10/2024 16:41

He only needs that day's books. A planner, pencil case. Shouldn't need text books.

Pe days and Food tech maybe a bit different but there's no way one day's equipment should be 12kg.

What is he taking EVERY DAY that weighs so much?

Norfolkbound · 07/10/2024 16:41

If they have to carry a laptop around that is a lead weight before you put anything else in (and the bag has to be more substantial in order to carry a laptop). Bloody tech!

Norfolkbound · 07/10/2024 16:39

The bags they are expected to carry are horrendously heavy! So much so, that that I think is the sole reason some parents drive their children to secondary. It is an unreasonable weight to carry. I have a little dream where I have a teacher put on an empty backpack and then fill it one by one with all the essentials and then see what they think! Mine is Year 8 now and 100% the posture has been negatively impacted.

BlackOrangeFrog · 07/10/2024 16:39

12 and a half kilos???

What has he got in there? A dumbbell??

Anywherebuthere · 07/10/2024 16:39

Does the school say everything in it is really necessary or your son?

I ask because mine have a habit of carrying everything with them even if they don't need it for the day.

They dont use their own devices in school in years 7-11. They use books and folders.

But they only need to carry what's required for the subjects they have each day but choose to carry every thing they need for the week.

Pe/games kit is in a separate bag on the days they have that.

Some children use bags on wheels. Is that an option if he really needs everything?

MermaidEyes · 07/10/2024 16:38

What does he have in it? I get PE and cooking days means extra bags to carry but that's obviously not every day.

FumingTRex · 07/10/2024 16:36

That was the weight of my bag when i backpacked round south America for 6 Months. Surely not possible?

minipie · 07/10/2024 16:36

Similar here

I don’t think a locker would help though. They don’t carry their bags continuously all day. They carry them to/from school (locker wouldn’t help) and between lessons which is 5 min at a time. The main weight is the laptop which wouldn’t get left in a locker anyway.

I agree it’s not ideal that they are carrying a heavy weight a lot but can’t really see a solution other than going back to pen and paper (and even so, I remember having very heavy files and textbooks).

Best thing you can do is persuade your child to carry his bag on 2 shoulders not 1, even if 1 shoulder is “cool”. A wonky spine is not cool.

speedmop · 07/10/2024 16:33

i’m intrigued that “absolutely necessary” weighs that given so much on ipad now

not so for your son?

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