Following Primary School topic, please post your top tips for a new starter to Secondary School.

My advice is to buy what you are asked to and name absolutely everything.

I am a Y7 form tutor and seemed to spend the first few weeks returning scattered possessions to their owners.

Make sure they take plenty of drinks. DS's school has no water fountain and a bottle of water costs £1.30.

My dd is going up in September, she is being badly bullied at the moment by her two so called friends.

Went up to the High School today and spoke to the lovely Head of Yr7 and he is going to make sure that they are separated. Big relief all round.

I didn't buy the art kit or the maths kit this time. Last time the maths kit arrived late and there were bits missing and DS said the arts stuff wasn't good at all.

Have a look round at the year 7/8 at the moment,and see what bags they are using for games kit,dd2s expensive regulation bag,was dumped on day 2 and replaced with a jane norman carrier bag.

Good point about communication. There isn't any!

My ds has very tatty trousers atm!

Don't buy everything on the book list. I laid out over £70 on French, German, Spanish and English Dictionaries amongst other books, and they were still in the cellophane when I took them to Oxfam in Yr8.

Agree don't go with the presumption that they'll keep the same friends. If any of her friends are in her class, that's a bonus but she should be prepared to jump in the deep end and make new friends.

Don't expect the school to tell you ANYTHING. Ours has crap communication and you'll find out more from other parents in her class, esp. if they have older children.

ps does anyone elses yr6 dc look like a ragamuffin DD seems to have grown out of everything, her last pair of trousers are now half way up her ankles.

Been there with DS 2 years ago, but DD starting seems such a different ball game.

She is going to her new school next week 3 times.
Wednesday night to meet new form and teacher

Thursday is transfer day so she will spend all day there.

Friday morning is CAT tests.

She is more than ready to start, but thoroughly enjoying her last few weeks at primary.

My only concern so far is that she has been put in a different house to DS. There are going to be so many arguements over which house is best It doesn't help that DS was Lower school House Captain this year so he is very proud of his "house".

The only advice I would give is don't have high expectations of existing friends. DS had problems in yr7 and I heard of so many other dc's having problems was well. Some children don't like the fact that they have gone from being the big fish in the pond to a little tiddler in a sea and can take it out on their existing friends.

And to follow on from grapefruit's comment about coats, COOL is much more important than practical from now on! Whether you like it or not, and no matter how practical you persuaded him/her to be in primary, it won't wash now. They will walk to school in the rain without a coat, they will refuse a coat in arctic conditions - but may accept a vest and some gloves. Live with it!

Buy a cheap school bag until she has started and decided what is "cool" (and practical) - I bought one for £3.50 at the market - satchel style. Within a few weeks she realised it was giving her backache so agreed to switch to a backpack of mine. Got her a more trendy one for Christmas (Roxy is popular here - you can get them cheaper in TKMaxx sometimes).

If she is unsure about what to do at lunchtime give her a packed lunch plus some money in case everyone else is going to the canteen on the first day. But if possible try to encourage packed lunches - I spent a fortune topping up the canteen pre-pay card in the first term. It is open mid-morning too....

Don't bother buying a coat because anything that is actually practical in terms of keeping her warm & dry will not be cool

Read all the Year7 threads from this year!

Don't leave anything to chance. Get everything ready the weekend before.

Ask DD's advice on everything incl what is in her lunch box. She will be making an 'entrance' and will be much more independent here than in primary. She wants to make a good impression.

Make sure you know how she will be getting there on the first day and ensure you leave time for her to do so in time.

Does she know anyone who is going to the same school? Try to get her to hook up with them on the way to school.

Good luck. DS#1 was very nervous but excited and so far he has had a wonderful time.

Will watch this thread.

DH and I went to the parent's evening at DS's new secondary school last night and met his form teacher. It's all very scary/exciting!

Is your DD looking forward to it Chinwag ?