Secondary School Induction day

Well I have just collected DS from his induction day and...........he loved it!
He is the only pupil going from his primary but has one friend going from another school and luckily they have been placed in the same form. He now wishes that he was going back tomorrow

SueC, that happened to both of my DDs. They didn't know anyone either and although we had talked about and I tried to manage their expectations, I know that both secretly hoped to come home with a ready-made best friend for September!

The reality was that the ones who were at Primary together stuck to each other like glue and were reluctant to welcome others into their cliques. Not surprising - they would be back with their friends at their old schools the next day. We had an awful August, but in September everything was absolutely fine because everything seemed to change over the summer. One thing that really helped was teachers who had seating plans, which forced children to mix more broadly. Also, in September I think they new Yr7s were approaching school with a completely different mindset and were open to making new friends in a way that they weren't on the induction day.

One of the things I did over the summer which I think was useful was to talk a lot about the nature of friendships - what makes a good friend? what makes people popular? why do you like to be with x? why do some people find it hard to make friends? The hardest thing was that we also talked about how important it was not to come across as too needy and desperate to make friends. As I said, in September everything was absolutely fine and I vividly remember the contrast between DD1's induction day, which she left in tears and sat in a shuddering heap in the car, totally inconsolable, and her first real day, when she came running out saying she had a planner and friends and had joined the netball club and she'd had pizza for lunch...

Sorry for the garbled message but I just wanted to reassure you that we'd had exactly the same experience and everything was fine (and is fine) in the end.

My DS went for his induction day today but came home in tears. He's very shy and didn't know anyone in his class. Didn't make any friends. Don't know how to make him feel better and stop him worrying for the next 8 weeks. Really don't want it to spoil his summer.

Dd went for induction today and he had a really good time advice to every one else don't be late

If he is confident enough I would let him try to go on his own as it a chance to try out the route . my dd went with only 2 others to her secondary Y6 day. It is a chance for them to see the school as it is during the day. Our secondary also ran a summer school for new Y7 in 1st week of school holidays. This was really helpful to start making new friends. hope everything goes ok .

Omg my son has his on Friday I am really nervous he's excited.

He had been bullied at his primary school am worried he could be an easy target.

I even feel a little sick now I am sure he will be fine our parents induction ia on the 4th was supposed to be tomrrow but the strikes are on gurrrrr would of liked to meet the head before hand Dd is not sure to have packed lunch or not I did suggest he have dinners to see if he liked it

Dd had a really good time on her induction day 3 years ago: the one thing that's stuck in my memory is that they had a chemistry lesson and got to extract the DNA of a kiwi fruit.

And once all three of mine had been to their induction days - they declared that they did not want to go back to their primary school and decided that they wanted to go straight to their new schools.

Most senior schools have induction days now. My three went to their school, each child followed on (first child went knowing no one in a school of 1200) all made loads of friends and settled in and really enjoyed their induction days - don't panic people they will be okay in the long run!! Nervous for the parents though - bet you all watch the clock on their first day!! Good luck to all of the new intake of year 7 pupils where ever you go to!!

Our invitation specifically asked that we did not bring them.

This has been really helpful as we have all this to look forward to next week!
Can I just ask if you took your DC's to the parents evenings?

My dd had her induction day last Friday. They did expect parents to take children and collect (unless they already had siblings at the school) but the start and end times did not clash with local primary schools.
As well as meeting year 7 tutors and a tour of the school they also did the following: met students currently in year 7 (in particular those who had transferred from their primary school), chance to see the new school uniform etc., they were taken to the local bus stops to explain about travel to the school. My dd enjoyed her day and reeled off a list of names of new friends and also another list of children she already knew at the school!

Thanks for the information here. Very relevant for me as my daughter's induction day is next week.

DD had hers this week - just one day.

Talks in the hall,
taster lessons,
free school lunch,
choice of afternoo activity - she chose sports.

They were put into groups, but not the forms they will be in. Different groups am and pm.

DD enjoyed it and is excited about September, though a bit nervous too - the thing she's most concerned about is that she makes nice new friends

We have induction over 3 days as well.

Eveinging meeting with parents where children meet their form tutors. Next day is whole day induction, they usually do pe. Next is morning only for CAT tests.

I am really worried about this too... My son is a quiet shy boy and am really anxious that the other kids will pick up on this. I just hope he will be fine. He will be there all day next Friday, but on Monday we have a meeting with the Head, I really hope it goes well

Ds has his next week- but is away on school residential trip.
Great forwward planning on behalf of primary school- they did it last year too!
Still he will be going for a couple of hours the week after.

That's good to know MmeRed

In my son's current year 6, most of the children are going to two comprehensives, one where they have an induction week and another where they have three days...

My son is one of only two children going to an out of catchment faith school where they only have one induction day, so that's good to know, thanks

DS has his this week.

The admissions tutor from his new school came to visit him on Monday and talked about the induction day and about next year. He is the only one going from his primary school so this was very welcome.
She also gave him and information sheet with details about dropping off/collection and what they need to take/wear.

OP - I would imagine the school will be sending out some information to you at some point before the induction day - they can't expect people to know what to do/bring/wear otherwise.

MmRed thanks for that post - our school doesn't do a full day session and I starting to worry that it wouldn't be enough to help him start smoothly in sept.
Glad to know there are other, less full on, approaches that still result in happy settled year 7s.

We don't do induction days at our school, but I have taught in schools who had them.

It is common for the new intake to follow the Year 11 timetable of the day, since Year 11s are gone. It will be hit and miss as to which lessons they do, but most departments will put on a bit of a show.

When I did an Y7 induction as a Science teacher, I would get the bunsen burners out, as this would be something new to most primary school children. We'd only boil a beaker of water, taking the temperature every 20 seconds (boooooring), but the children would find it fascinating.

In the course of the day, the new pupils would meet their form tutor, have a Year Assembly, get experience of moving from class to class, meet several new teachers, and have a cafeteria lunch. They would share the trials and tribulations with their new classmates.

We don't do induction days at our school and I don't think pupils worry about it over the summer. We have an evening reception/information evening for parents where pupils do some ice-breaking games. Other than that, we have a half-day in September the day before school starts where they come to school in uniform and work together as a form. They all learn soon enough about senior school.

Ds had his last week (which we were late for , he spent a little time in the science lab, some time doing PE, maths (lunch), circle time and english. Then they had a music show which the parents were invited to so we could see what the school offered music wise. All the year 7s are returning a day early in September for a couple of hours so they can get to know each other.

gosh three days.. in my area it is one day and then parents in the eve.

I am sure my dad will be fine - but she is sad to leave all her friends and worryed baout going back to school on thursday and all her friends talking about there new school.

Hi - I'm a secondary teacher. Please try not to be too nervous . We have our transfer days next week and it really is just like the above posters have described. (We try really really hard to look after the yr 6's and reassure them)

We do 3 days so yours might be condensed a bit, but basically:

form tutor/form time
get timetable
treasure hunt to find way round school
getting to know you games/circle time
selection of lessons eg. sci, maths, eng, geog, pe ICT

There is a parents evening where parents meet child's form tutor after the 2nd day.

HTH

I had a four page introduction and it was lovely a peace about the headmaster and his role in the school and as a father of three children, along wiht a lot of information about the school dya and what they will need.

fortunately my dd1's friend is at the same 6th form and will take my dd on the bus - it is dd1's friends last ever day at school..she is then of to exeter to uni. So she is being taken and brought home on the bus and dd's friend will mother her..she is nervous for the mronign as none of her school mates are going - no one has choosen the school