Secondary school setting homework before dc has even started there, is this normal?

[TurnAngerIntoHope]

My youngest dc is starting year 7 in September, today I had an email from the new school assigning them a task relating to a trip their year group will be going on in the first few weeks of the new term. They want this completed in time for the transition day in July.

Is this normal? I have an older dc who also attends the school and I don’t remember them being set any homework before they’d even started there. AIBU to think this is a bit odd?

What’s the task?

Yep. Mine was set a huge amount of reading and other work and no one ever marked it or even checked they had done it. Didn’t go down well right at the start, either with me or my daughter.

My children didn’t get set any (one of my children didn’t have any homework for the first term of year 7 so they could settle) but I know friend’s children have had tasks to do before they start so not unheard of

It depends on the task. If it’s fun and will help your child then fair enough but if it’s huge and time consuming then I’d be a bit annoyed

I feel like this is more of a test to see who has attentive parents and will follow orders, than about the output!

Set for over the summer holidays:
-Read a set text ahead of studying it for English (wasn’t a chunky book)
-Write a postcard to the Head - doesn’t have to be from a holiday or trip necessarily

To research the place they will be visiting in the new term with a couple of specific topics to focus on.

I feel it’s a bit much to be setting homework before they’ve even set foot in the place, but wanted to see what others thought or if this is the norm now. I will be letting dc know about it, but won’t be forcing them to complete it. They only finished sats last week and now have all the end of year 6 stuff starting.

The school DS nearly went to (late bump up the waiting list of a higher preference school) sent a list of books that the pupils might enjoy reading and asked families to encourage reading over the holidays. They also had a transition week in the holidays.

Its not that big a deal is it? Its probably intended to try and level the playing field a bit. Enthusiastic/engaged kids (or children of engaged parents keen to support learning) will often do this sort of thing anyway, so encouraging everyone to do it gets more kids to a similar level of preparedness.

I think some parents underestimate how much other families do to support learning. One parent I know scoffed openly at the idea of parents taking 7 year olds to roman historical sites on weekends to support them learning about this in school. I felt a bit embarrassed as its exactly the sort of thing DH & I would choose to do with our kids.

Mine didn't have anything set at all but I wouldn't have minded the work you've mentioned provided they've not been asked to do an hour long presentation or anything.

No I suppose it’s not that big of a deal, it just took me by surprise. I’m happy to support my dc’s learning and do my best with both of them to do so. Older dc didn’t have anything set before starting there, they did suggest some books to read over the summer but it wasn’t mandatory (I did buy and encourage dc to read at least some of them), so this must be a fairly new thing the school have introduced. I thought it odd because they’re still at their primary school and don’t go to that school yet, so in my head it was like “omg they’re already putting pressure on them” but your reasoning makes it make a bit more sense. Still not sure I fully agree with the idea though.

You shouldn’t feel embarrassed because other parents scoffed, it’s great your dc get to experience things like that. We like taking ours to places like that sometimes too.

My DS had some sort of workbook to do I think. Not mandatory but encouraged.

Then there were some more obviously voluntary things like send a postcard to the school or similar.

You could do it together towards the end of the holidays. It doesn’t seem too taxing.

It’s due in at the beginning of July, when they have their transition day.

I agree. I work at a secondary school in an area where people move into catchment rather than send their kids to private schools. Broadly speaking, the pupils that come up from the primary schools in wealthier catchments arrive further ahead not because they’re brighter but because they’ve got a wider range of experiences and general knowledge to draw upon. Tasks like this are an attempt to level the playing field. In reality it often ends up widening it sadly.

The school DS nearly went to (late bump up the waiting list of a higher preference school) sent a list of books that the pupils might enjoy reading and asked families to encourage reading over the holidays. They also had a transition week in the holidays.

it's hardly homework is it. They can do a bit of research online at home, and you find sidelines about the subject, movie or whatever.

I never understand why parents are so reluctant to interest their kids in general knowledge and why the concept of "homework" create so much drama.

It's usually spelling and reading in Primary school, you'd think it's sad it has to be called homework because of the amount of parents who can't be bothered with basic stuff.

they have a month and a half, how much more notice would parents like!

I remember there was a booklet of worksheets to do over the summer holidays
Which they were told that they would get points for if completed
We expected it to be checked when they came back obviously but it wasn't. No one looked at it and I don't even think they got points for doing it either
So that pissed me off

It’s a transition task to help ease them in to secondary school. It takes away some of the fear and helps them to engage in a positive way with an enjoyable task and builds relationships between them and school by breaking down a few barriers. It also sets some expectations in place. It’s a nice task. It’s not 3000 word essay on Chaucer. Please support your child doing this independently and emigrate them to see it as exciting and a great opportunity.

Yes but think of the value it added to your child’s education. Learning loss is huge over the summer and especially from 6-7.

Over the summer DS had to read at least six books of his choice and write an essay about themselves and what they were looking forward to at school. He is at a grammar school though, and I think his list had 11 books on it as he’s a total bookworm so that bit was something he’d have done anyway.