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Original poster

Secondary school back packs

100 replies

StainlessSeal · 15/07/2024 11:43

Where do all of your girls get their back backs? DD needs one for Y 7 and I'm not even sure where to look! It has to be a backpack (no totes etc).

OP posts:
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dementedpixie · 15/07/2024 11:45

My dd had a kipling one
Ds just had a black adidas one

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 11:49

Are any of these Marks and Spencer ones suitable, OP?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/school-uniform/bags?

SoupDragon · 15/07/2024 11:53

DD had a fairly plain black Nike one. Sports Direct I think.

Original poster
StainlessSeal · 15/07/2024 14:43

Thanks all. DD has ASD and doesn't pay much attention to such things, but I just want to make sure she doesn't get anything too babyish or something that might make her the cause of jokes etc

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 15/07/2024 14:53

Nike one here

It will need to be big enough for A4 books, lunch, pencil cases, food ingredients...

I think DD keeps bricks in there too judging by the weight!

cloudy477654 · 15/07/2024 15:00

My DD had a black Vans one, now upgraded to a big black handbag style (not keen on this but picking my battles).
If possible I would recommend waiting until they actually start year 7 before buying a new bag. My DD hated the one she chose in the summer holidays ready for year 7 once she started because she had chosen a lilac one but all the older girls had black ones and she thought hers was childish!
They do suddenly become more grown up in the first few weeks of secondary school.

cloudy477654 · 15/07/2024 15:01

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 11:49

Are any of these Marks and Spencer ones suitable, OP?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/school-uniform/bags?

M&S would be social suicide in my DD's school!

thedendrochronologist · 15/07/2024 15:01

Sports direct

Adidas/nike/hype / tnf most common

I'm a secondary teacher

Id stick to a plain basic colour and make sure it's not too big as some Y7 carry far too much.

Or Tk Maxx maybe quick silver or Roxy but not sure those brands are cool.

Nike is a a staple brand that can't go wring

Of avoid anything to little girly like pink and ponies but that's just my opinion

longdistanceclaraclara · 15/07/2024 15:03

Dts had vans in y7, Nike in y8. Our school is really strict though, has to be black with a minimal logo. Eastpak are popular too.

M&S would not cut it in secondary here!

Quornflakegirl · 15/07/2024 15:05

Mine start year 7 this September. One has a dark green SuperDry backpack and the other a navy Jansport.

FusionChefGeoff · 15/07/2024 15:06

Top tip I got from here - can you arrange to drive / walk past at start or end of school day? You can then check what everyone else is using to make sure you don't commit a faux pas as individual schools can be little mini fashion islands!

Original poster
StainlessSeal · 15/07/2024 15:08

I'm so glad I asked because you all seem to get exactly where I'm coming from!!

OP posts:
UnimaginableWindBird · 15/07/2024 15:14

My teens both liked the Lekesky laptop backpacks from Amazon.

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 15:34

cloudy477654 · 15/07/2024 15:01

M&S would be social suicide in my DD's school!

Show quote history

Gosh, I didn't even know that was a thing!

Why?

wellwhatcanisaytothat · 15/07/2024 15:35

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 11:49

Are any of these Marks and Spencer ones suitable, OP?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/kids/school-uniform/bags?

Sorry but do NOT send a Year 7 to school with one of these!

They will be picked on.

Just get one from a sports shop!

PuttingDownRoots · 15/07/2024 15:36

Re the M&s bags... they are usually quite small.

They are aimed at Primary, not secondary

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 15:42

I don't have teenage children, but would like to know about the backpack thing!

If you bought one like this from M and S, how would the others know where it had been bought?

www.marksandspencer.com/backpack/p/hbp22580325?

wasthesummerof69 · 15/07/2024 15:42

Mainly Eastpak in DCs school

KurtCobainLover · 15/07/2024 15:44

Another vote for Nike here, both of mine have them along with half the school I think based on what I see at pick up time.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/07/2024 15:44

TheSquareMile · 15/07/2024 15:42

I don't have teenage children, but would like to know about the backpack thing!

If you bought one like this from M and S, how would the others know where it had been bought?

www.marksandspencer.com/backpack/p/hbp22580325?

People were meaning the M&S branded ones.

veritusverity · 15/07/2024 16:42

Plain black tresspass. At our local comp no one cares. Although I think unicorns, rainbows or flowers might raise an eyebrow! Most of the kids seem to have black, dark blue or dark purple. One of dd's friends has a skull and cross bones one, but I'd say she's the exception to the rule, by having a 'patterned' one.

veritusverity · 15/07/2024 16:43

Trespass

SleepEatSnoozeRepeat · 15/07/2024 16:51

Dd has the fjallraven kanken in black with rainbow straps. She has a decent walk so it needed to be waterproof and I've been very impressed with how sturdy it is. Ds has gone for the same in dark green. Previous sports brand ones fell apart quickly so I'm happy with these!

Namechangencncnc · 15/07/2024 16:52

Hype
Nike
Vans
Eastpak
Any back packs with no brand name that are entirely plain coloured.

There is one on Amazon which some parents buy every year and it's a baby change bag, and they are the kids who generally get 'it' wrong and I feel bad for them. I think it can make life easier to have the right thing.

FusilliGeri · 15/07/2024 17:16

If you can, see if you can get a look at some of the kids walking home from school and see what bags they have as it can be very school specific.

Or to be on the safe (and expensive) side go to Urban outfitters and buy whatever is there.