any of your DCs starting S1 this august?

[strangerthongs]

I thought I'd start our own thread seeing as there's threads for S5/6, exams, uni etc.

V nervous about DD starting S1. High school's a whole other ball game isn't it? I remember being badly bullied and feeling overwhelmed in the first few weeks.

Does anyone know what books they tend to read in English in S1 nowadays, and what they study in History in S1 - my two favourite subjects when I was at schools so I'm curious.

In my DD's high school, they will be choosing subjects midway through S1 which seems awfy early (it was S2 when I was at school).

I wonder what the most popular subjects are...there seems to be some really cool options nowadays although I would hope DD will choose subjects that she is likely to actually use/need in her future career and not because all her friends are doing it.

Anyone else have a DC starting high school?

Most of that we never heard/worked out until the subject choices were being done and kids were being told they weren't getting what they had put down. We were lucky with ds he got everything he picked, but I was shocked some kids appeared to be getting written off academically so soon. They start S1 in August and iirc choices are in Feb ready for S2 to start after easter.

They get given the forms home to discuss with parents, they talk to their friends about what they have picked, then go to a meeting with their guidance teacher to discuss what they and parents have discussed vs what they are allowed (they dont know this prior to the meeting) then the form with choices agreed between child and teachers this back to parent for signing.

It's only then you can arrange to go in and discuss if not happy. The kid comed out the 10 min meeting and tells their friends they aren't allowed to do x or y with no support from parent at this point. Crap system (at our school anyway).

Ignore all the spelling mistakes in that!!!

WTF is "star project"? DD said a teacher from the academy came to the school and got them working on this and that it will continue when they are in S1.

DD thinks its either art or engineering related.

Never heard of that, I got a pack through today about the high school and asking for a deposit for a residential and info to get them logged into parent pay etc.

Took one look at it all and just thought urgh, not yet. 😂

DS1 is off on his school camp tomorrow - it's P7s from all the feeder primaries. His anxiety seems under control for once and he's in a dorm room with people he likes.
Unfortunately he's not feeling the same about his enhanced transition day and is point blank refusing to go. So, that'll be fun when the day comes.

I think my DD has 2 full days in June - that'll be fun. I'm curious as to what she'll make of it.

DD is insisting on walking to school on her first day. I'm inclined to take her there to make sure she knows where to go, what to do etc. Is that me just being an overprotective mum

Oh and TIGHTS! help me win an argument!

DD hates tights. hates hates hates them. Refuses to wear them. wants to wear knee high socks.

I say no one else at the academy will wear them. She says she doesn't care. And doesn't care if she's cold. Only happy to wear trousers if its really baltic, otherwise she wants skirt and socks.

I am not sure the school will want skirts without tights.

Any tips on how to win this argument?

I wouldn't take her there, they are all about image at that age and too old for mum to makes an appearance. The transition days will make sure she knows where she is going.

I would be tempted to hang about the school before or after school to see what other children are wearing if you are not sure, also tell her to look at what other pupils are wearing at transition days then she can decide. A skirt and knee high socks at ds's school would be...unique. Most of the girls wear trousers or shorter skirts with thick black tights. I wouldn't argue, arm her with the information, then it is her choice.

You won't get to go into the school with her, so you won't be able to tell her where to go.

Re the tights I doubt the school is going to force her to wear tights if she prefers socks Maybe make sure her skirt is not too shirt though Peer pressure may be the most effective thing there though.

The 2 days transition are to help them understand what to do and where to go. It will indeed be overwhelming for her the first few days - but all the 1st years will be in the same boat.

Some parents of pupils with severe and complex ASN might bring their DC right into the school but that is to a handover to the appropriate member of staff.

The primary teachers and all secondary staff involved in the transition activities are very visible to shepherd the P7 around.

There are always a couple of girls who wear ankle socks, an occasional wearer of knee length(usually if they've been private schooled) at the start of S1 when the days are still warm . Don't see many still clinging to socks by the end of the year. But so many girls wear trousers (and my pet hate leggings or black skinnies) that socks are not the topic of dress code assemblies.

Help - where do you buy school trousers/joggers from?

DD won't stop growing LOL

Currently she gets joggers from Asda but is now too long. So where else is a good place to get smart black joggers from?

She is dead fussy about her clothes.

She refuses to wear jeans or jeggings (outside of school obviously), does not want proper trousers, does not want leggings or tights, and only wears skirts with socks.

She is much comfier in joggers.

Any recommendations for smart and comfy school joggers? Long length, women's size 8/10?

I have boys, but Next and H&M tend to be good for length without too much width. Will she be allowed joggies for high school (non PE) wear?

the school handbook isn't clear on whether black joggers are allowed (non PE) so I'm not sure.

Guess the only way we'll find out is if she wears them.

It's hard to tell. Our school wasn't extreme on uniform adherence but did insist on Shirt, tie and blazer. Handbook says black school trousers or skirt but in reality some DC wear leggings and it's not an issue. I have to say that I picked up at school daily for many years and i've never seen anyone in joggers or sports trousers/trackies though. They even make them change back into uniform if PE was last period. Is there any way you can happen to pass school in the morning or afternoon and do a bit of a recce?

yeah I might have to do that

There's a lot of very tight / see through leggings been worn from what I've seen so far with colourful knickers underneath

DD has chosen a large mint green bag, but my DM says she will get laughed at and stand out a mile but that's her favourite colour and she's insisting on it.

Is DM right?

What bag brands are your kids all going for? Need some other recommendations to check out

Nowhere I've taught has allowed joggers for boys or girls in the last decade . Before that dress codes were less formal and the ubiquitous Adidas joggers with white polos were fine. Is a tie mandatory? I would think that joggers would look a bit odd with a shirt and tie .

H and M have quite soft "paper bag" trousers in black at the moment. When my DDs were younger teens/tweens they liked New Look 915 range.

I'm quite ambivalent about uniforms but I like there to be a clear policy and for that to be sensibly applied that way everyone knows where they stand. It's when some DC seem to be able to wear anything and others get pulled up for minor infractions that does my head in. That seems to be worse down south though. My niece got in trouble for wearing socks with a tiny white heart on them as part of an otherwise immaculate uniform - I know it said plain black socks so I guess it was her own fault. :o

Don't even get me started on schools that need them to have standardised haircuts!

Schoolbags - Superdry if she wants to try and identify hers from every other one in the pile. Rocketdog do nice back packs at a fraction of the price some black with just a little design or splash of colour.

Boys tend to stick to plain black/grey/navy/blue sports type brands but I'm sure girls tend to have brighter ones, pinks/purples/with patterns and designs, can't say I've really noticed too much so I'll bow to Lidl on that one - sure one of my former transportees had a purple one - maybe with butterflies?

so DD got given her registration class today and also her 'practical set' classes which I'm a bit confused about.

She has 3 girls and 1 boy from her school in her registration class. She says they are all okay but is gutted none of her three best friends are in her registration class.

She has different kids from her school in her practical set classes. Again these kids are okay but none of her best friends.

She's gutted.

She's also upset that her BFF is in the same class as the school bully (BFF not happy about it either but has a few others in her class that should make it okay).

I don't get the difference between registration and practical set.

I'm also confused as I thought the kids would be in classes according to ability but DD appears to be in a mixed ability registration class.

For classes such as science/tech, they are only allowed 20 per class, so there are more practical classes than registration classes. It's disappointing for her not to be with her friends but it honestly doesn't matter. Very few DC ever stay friends with primary school class mates. Not any setting now until they split into their Nat 5 classes as far as I know and even then the usual split is just between Nat 4 and 5. My DSs went out of catchment and are both quiet but both made new friends very quickly. She will be fine I'm sure.

Ds's primary school friends were split up over 4 registration classes, but most subject classes he is in he had at least one friend in.

She will maybe have friends in her classes, but no guarantee she will sit next to them as, at ds's school, most teachers tell you where to sit and shuffle you about if there is too much chatter.

Friends meet up before school, briefly at break and then at lunch.

Ability setting is very unusual in S1. Some schools may start to stream in Maths and (more rarely) English in S2. Tends to be as Wax said in S4 when they properly start Nationals. That said some subjects won't stream then either if Nat 4 and 5 courses can be taught bilevel.

which classes are not practical then?

English? Social Subjects? just guessing really

So does this mean she'll have some classes with her registration class and some classes with her practical set?

It's all very confusing! When I was at the academy it was all alphabetical and you only had your registration class and you had the same kids in every class until standard grades

Yes, English, Maths, social subjects, languages etc. Really anything that doesn't involve making things or experiments. I think how it works is that say for example you have 6 classes of 30 DC in registration. Let's call them classes 1 to 6. Then first 20 kids from class 1 would be practical class A. Last ten would be practical class B together with first 10 kids of class 2. Last 20 in class 2 would be practical class C and so on.

2 taster days start tomorrow. I'm more nervous than DD, especially about her insisting on walking there herself and potentially being late or getting lost.

Has any one else's DC had their visits yet and how did it go?