Bags and coats for high school

[Stompythedinosaur]

Hi, wonder if anyone can help?

I'm just wondering what sort of brands are currently popular for y9 girls at high school?

Dd1 is starting high school in September, we have a 3 tier system so she will be in year 9 and is 13yo. She's moving from a tiny rural school to a much larger high school in a larger town, and I'm cautious I don't want to send her in with the wrong sort of stuff.

I'll obviously get her to pick, but we're both a bit clueless. Until now she's have a fairly basic plain cheap backpack and a coat from Marks and Spencer, but I don't want to send her into the new school with tragically uncool stuff.

Thanks for any help!

I have a 14 year old in secondary rather than 3 tier.

Rucksacks are all black Nike or Adidas, not usually coloured at all. Coats it does depend on the school rules, ours have to be black or blue and they often have the Zavetti Canada ones from JD sports.

Oh and we’re South Birmingham. The next town along has 3 tier system so if you are there then I would imagine fashions are fairly similar.

Here it’s black Nike backpacks and north face jackets

My yr8 daughter is pretty fashion conscious and says that all the kids have Nike or Addidas black backpacks and some variation of a black puffer. But she is adamant that kids don't get mocked for having the wrong stuff and it doesn't have to be branded.

Black Nike, Adidias and North Face backpacks here. Can't help with coats - as far as I can tell teenagers don't bother with them at all.

Could you go and drive past the school at leaving time and get a feel for what they are wearing? I'd also suggest not spending a lot to start with and be prepared to buy an alternative if DD gets there and finds that XYZ bag is the one to have.

Ds and DD both had super dry back packs and DS has a plain Navy North Face coat for school but his has to be plain navy due to school uniform rules. So I would double check them first before you get anything.

Thanks, this is incredibly helpful, really appreciate the suggestions!

Definitely go and look at drop off / kick out time as different schools will have different fashions.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts!

I will try to do a drive by, but the school's about an hour from home so it will need to be on a day I'm not working.

But I'll check on some of these ideas and show dd, really appreciate people's answers.

Coats 😂😂😂😂

Is there a colour specified in the uniform rules?

There isn't anything on the uniform rules about coats, though I suspect dd1 will only be happy with dark plain colours.

I know teenagers don't wear coats, but we're quite rural and it gets quite snowy and freezing in the winter! But, perhaps I m in denial. I'll have to buy her something in case, though!

Nike backpack, North face coat @ London

Mine always refused to wear a coat of any description when they were at secondary school, as did most of their friends. Good luck with that one.

Backpacks generally had to be plain and black.

JanSport are the backpacks of choice in our SW england high school. Bit pricey but its lasted well.

https://jansport.co.uk/collections/backpacks/products/right-pack-2-black

Agree with everything so far, girls also have the Longchamp Le Pliage bags. Bit pricey, my DD’s has lasted 2 years.

Black nike, adidas or northface. Son has never worn a coat. Hoodie under blazer in bad weather but has to be removed before entering school

My DD has a plain black rucksack but she swapped it out for a plain black tote bag. Think it's just from primark

Lots of girls at her school wear the Zavetti (I think) coats. Like black bomber jackets with the fur hood. They are pricey so we picked up one of a similar style online which she's been happy with. I can't remember where it's from though.

DD got a JanSport bag at the beginning of Y10 and it's the only bag which survived more than one year and is still looking good, she is in Y12 now. She is a magpie and even with folders in her locker, the bag is always full.

I sometimes drive her to school and most teens have some form of dark backpack and there are plenty of JanSports.

She had to have a plain black or navy coat and we bought Decathlon or Peter Storm (Black's own brand) over the years. She is walking 40 minutes each way. I would say she was fairly sensible with wearing one. Saying that, in the years where she wore a blazers, the coat only came out when it rained or between November - February.