DD12 and mean girls

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Oh my god. What is going on with young girls nowadays? Or has it always been like this. DD is a part of a group of 4 friends in final year of primary school. Definitely a hierarchy in group with two being the heads. Recently these two have made friends with another group of girls from another school. My DD has been told that she can't join this new group but they will all still be friends in school. WTAF. Who does that??
So she's good enough for school but not outside. They are all planning on being friends in local secondary school so already my DD is panicking that she will have zero friends in the new school and they will all be a big popular group. I feel so bad for DD. Has anyone had experience of this?? How can I help my DD

I hate the use of 'popular' to mean confident but cliquey.

There will be loads of nicer girls at secondary that hopefully your DD will meet. She is in some ways lucky she has seen them for what they are now.

Girls are absolutely ruthless at that age, it does settle down but not until closer to Year 9 ime. I'm very lucky that my DD12 is extremely confident and therefore takes it in her stride but theres SO much bitchiness and drama. DSD11 is having a really hard time which is horrible to see (diff areas so DD can't help). Eventually though they all find their own little group and it settles down. I hope your DD is ok

We have a very similar situation at the moment with DD 11, she’s been best friends with the same 3 girls since reception but the group leader has started hanging out with some older girls and they told my DD she’s not cool enough for them,
She was devastated but I told her she needs to branch out she’s put herself more forward at her dance and horse riding and she has a nee friend over today good standing for high school