Year 6 leavers

[Lou1993]

Hi, does anyone feel such a mix of emotions with their child leaving primary school? I have a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach about secondary school and feel very emotional about him leaving. On the other hand I feel relieved that I won't have to remember money for a variety of things or a different coloured shirt every other week!

Yes I do as I think the difference between primary and secondary is massive. But equally I think it’ll be a shock to the system until October half term then from November onwards they will feel a bit more used to it

I’ve always had the mix of emotions but sorry to break this to you it doesn’t get better in secondary school from my experience, still need money for various fundraisers and different dress up throughout the year!

I feel for you. Year 6 is hard but year 7 is awful. They are just not mature enough to cope with the change, routines and homework.

it gets better from year 8

We’ve already had huge amounts of correspondence and money requests for DD who is starting secondary in September!

I feel a mix of emotions but mainly I’m excited for her.

Sending you support op. I have been through this! Is there anything in
particular you are worried about or where people on the thread might be able to give support?

I probably should have added my eldest has just finished secondary school and ny youngest is going to the same secondary and apart from the uniform the overall costs throughout the school yeat are alot less than primary school. I think its dealing with this overwhelming feeling of change, especially as there will be no more primary school drop offs, it's been apart of my life for the past 13 years Also my youngest doesn't feel ready compared to my eldest he worries alot more and is already really anxious about going up to secondary school.

It is really different isn't it, my child was really shocked on the transition day and this has seemed to make it more anxious.

It seems like an end of an era really! Trying to find a positive outlook on this next chapter of our family lives.

This simply isn’t true.

Year 6 into 7 is a big adjustment, but most children are ready, and rise to the challenge. It’s tiring, but there is so much to enjoy about secondary school. Subject experts, lots of clubs and performances, a varied timetable, new friends.

Parents worry about the change far more than children, and they feed their children’s anxiety by saying things like ‘they’re too young for secondary school’.

It’s really, really important that parents are positive and upbeat about things, whilst acknowledging that it’s new, tiring and overwhelming at first.

I feel a mix of emotions too, my youngest has just finished primary school, it definitely feels like the end of an era, primary school becomes a mainstay of your life for a few years, then it’s suddenly over. It’s a big adjustment, more so for us parents than the children most of the time I think. My dc enjoyed all the end of year celebrations but didn’t get upset about leaving at all, they seem pretty neutral about moving up.

Takes me a few days into the summer holidays to shake the feeling and accept that it’s happening. I think this time it might take a little longer as this year marks the end of the primary school years, it’s fully done. Not that I’m not happy dc are doing well and moving on, just that change is hard to comprehend sometimes.

Op, I know this might seem hard to imagine but while it is a big change Year 7 is very little in secondary terms! It is a bit like going back to Reception in a funny kind of way! Being the youngest in the school again! There will be other nice milestones such as maybe Bunsen burner licenses if your school does those, parents evenings just the same and school trips for them to learn new independence skills.

This is exactly how I feel, I'm trying to stay positive as I don't want him to look back and remember this time as Mum being over emotional!

I feel you op, my eldest is going to Secondary Sept, he has autism although it isn't always obvious and struggles making friends (tends to talk at rather than to, awful with names, not very good at reciprocating questions) and expressing his emotions. He is kinda excited, he is going up pretty much alone, has to navigate the school bus. It's scary. He's a complex child medically so I'm much more protective and cautious about him. I never went to a mixed comprehensive so I don't really know much about them so all my intrusive thoughts are unhelpful

It's so hard not to worry about them isn't it. My brain will always go to the worst scenario. It's definitely my Mum brain going overload atm!

It’s a big transition for them but I’m a TA and our Yr 6s have outgrown primary school. By age 10/11 they are wanting more variety and challenge educationally and are very capable of organising themselves/making their own lunches/going on public transport. It’s an exciting time for them (but an emotional time for us mums!).

I disagree with this. Perhaps some children with SEN or who haven’t been prepared enough but the majority are mature enough and it does them good to move into a more challenging environment.
11 yr olds are tweens, not little children.

My ds1 finished year 6 yesterday. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride for him, Covid, his dad and I divorcing, his extreme anxiety/worries about school, it’s only been in the last 6 months he’s walked from the gate to his classroom by himself and we still haven’t overcome him wanting me to take him to school everyday. But in the last term he’s come on so much, has made a few new friends that he can really be himself with, participated in all of sports day (in y5 he cried the whole way through/wouldn’t do all of it), and passed all of his SATs, I’m just so so proud of him. So I did shed a tear at pickup yesterday!!! He had a fab leavers party/sendoff too. His school and teachers have all been amazing, I’m glad I still have ds2 there, for another 3 years anyway!

I think its maybe having no more children in the primary school which is more upsetting as although I was upset when my eldest finished year 6 I can't remember feeling like this. It probably doesn't help my eldest has just finished year 11 aswell it's a double whammy for emotions!

My DD just finished today she's going from a mainstream primary to a specialist school September. She cried with her 1.1 SEN TA with the her friend that also has help from the TA. I cried because it's an end of an era if I dont have another child from now to her leaving secondary so my emotions are all over the place as I'm going to miss the teachers that helped my daughter

I understand completely and feel the same. Also have two
older ones who have just finished year 13 and year 11 so been full on. For me it’s definitely the thought of not having anymore in primary school.
Feel very emotional after my youngest left year 6 today. Even though I felt ready for it, it’s hit me so hard today.

It's so hard isn't it.. it's missing people who made an impact on your child's life and the people you see every day on the school run.

I'm so proud of my boys but I wish there was a pause button some times so I can enjoy them being at home for longer!

So true I think it's because we have had such a battle to get my DD her EHCP for a couple of years due to covid hitting and her teachers weren't able to see and support her the traditional way of being in school.

She had to wait until half way year 3 for the support she needed. I will definitely be missing the teachers that have had a impact on my dd thankfully my mum is a dinnermiss at the school so she can pass on messages and pictures my dd want her primary TA to have

I feel exactly the same. I love all the people that they are becoming, but at the same time miss the little ones that they were.

That's nice that'll you'll have that connection, I live close to the school and will pass it everyday so may bump into a few people but there's a lot of parents who I won't see as they don't live as local which is a shame.