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?

Had child planning meeting for DS1 today and a learning support teacher was there from the high school. All looks very positive, he'll get enhanced transition and an extra day. They have an in service where kids with ASN are highlighted to staff so that's good too.
He doesn't need academic support, more organisation and social, because of the ADHD and dyspraxia.

That sounds great weebarra. When does the enhanced transition start? It sounds like the school will be very supportive :)

Do boys still wear Clarks shoes in Secondary school or is that very uncool? Ds wears either Clarks or kickers at primary.

I think it's uncool. DS1 has a pair of kickers, but lots of them are wearing black trainers.
I just bought a pair of skinny back trousers in the La Redoute sale, I suspect m&s grey school trousers won't cut it!

We ended up getting black shoes in Sports Direct. Some of them were semi-trainer in style but all were well structured and supportive.

We used to trawl Silverburn looking for alternatives to SD - but came to realise that it was easiest just to brave the place.

(I also insisted that didn't have any flashes of white on them which ds was frustrated at me being so strict about).

I always insisted on leather though.

ds's school uniform states "Black Shoes - Black Trainers are not acceptable". In the school handbook they try to justify it on safety grounds, for example, you might not be able to do some chemistry experiments because trainers don't protect your feet as much as shoes do, but I've never heard anymore being told they cant do something in school due to their footwear.

Most S1-S3 wear trainers. ds wears all black trainers with minimal branding. I think they start asking them to wear Blazers and proper shoes from S4 onwards.

Ds has friends with older siblings in the school so we knew what the norm was before he started.

DD isn't really at the stage yet of caring where her clothes are from, she's just fussy about how comfortable they are really. In addition to get her blazer and maroon/burgundy jumpers etc, I will also need to get her a bag.

Not sure about type of bag now either - how much homework do they get in S1? Is a huge bag needed, or a medium-ish one? I dont know yet if she'll get a locker or if that's for the seniors

Dd has a Kipling backpack that has lasted 3 years. Ds has an Adidas one. Neither of mine have a locker as there aren't enough for everyone.

Depends on the school tbh. DS wears men's clarks shoes but they are very similar to the kickers his brother had and he chose them as being the most comfy out of a range of shoes including some kickers and other cooler looking shoes. Some DC do wear trainers (not encouraged) but the norm is just bog standard shoes or boots for girls and boys. They also have compulsory blazer wearing/uniform. Friends DS in Glasgow seem to have plain black trainers/vans/converse as the norm with blazers not really enforced but attempts being made especially with senior school.

Your best bet is to lurk about at kicking out time and assess what seems to be the norm. Having been at the school for pick-up most days for 7 years I'm confident that what he has are completely in line with the rest of the school but I do know that that might be totally different elsewhere. Girls tend to go for black ballet flats in the summer and ankle boots in the cooler weather.

My dd wears lace up brogues from schuh. D's has Adidas shoes originally from sports direct but had to get a bigger size elsewhere

Neither of mine have ever had a locker, they liked a back pack big enough to get gym kit in but as their feet were enormous that didn't really work out well. They've either had FOX racing bags or timberland or NorthFace. On the larger side of medium but they have lasted years.

Girls seem to have a lot of patterned Eastpack/Vans type backpacks but again, I'd hang about the school and see what the norm is.

I think I will have to go to the school at home time to see what shoes the boys are wearing. Ds hates lacing shoes so he might have a problem fitting in. I am guessing the velcro strap will be very uncool.

Ds struggles to fit everything in his medium back pack at primary, I think he will need extra large for high school. His packed lunch, trainers for outdoor gym, gym clothes, homework books, extra large pencil case seem to take up alot of space. And the large water bottle makes it very heavy.

Ds has worn Adidas shoes with 3 Velcro straps this year in S1. Never had any comments. He can do laces but these ones still fitted from last year so he still wears them

Ds's backpack has side elastic bits for water bottles. It has a laptop section at the back with a separate zip so his lunch box goes in there

Ds has at times had velcro shoes at high school. Kickers in a trainer style. He has suspected dyspraxia and struggled with his laces. It was never an issue.

Think it might have been these or whatever the equivalent was a few years ago:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DH2ZWNM/ref=asc_df_B01DH2ZWNM58662322/?hvlocphy=1007397&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=209792543946&creative=22110&hvpone&hvlocint&creativeASIN=B01DH2ZWNM&th=1&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-340489429809&hvrand=5331319391452454021

Adidas alta sport

Ds has the black ones and the blue ones. He uses the blue ones for PE

My Dss had big feet, those wouldn't have fitted them after they were age 9/10 :(

Very smart though.

Thank you for the links. This is very good news that velcro straps should be ok. The kickers are very similar to what he is wearing this year so would be good if he can continue to wear them through high school. Those Adidas trainers are really nice and a good price. He is so hard on his shoes and very accident prone, always falling, so is good to have two pairs of shoes so he could have both.

demented who makes the backpack your ds has it sounds good. I will also look at the ones wax mentioned. I remember it being mentioned that waterproof is good.

Derby - yes, those are perfect. I feel your (and your DS's!) pain. I don't think dyspraxic DS will ever manage laces effectively so those are perfect for him.
The LS teacher at his transition meeting mentioned about shirt and tie being compulsory so we'll have to get working on that one too.
He has an iPad for school so any school bag will need to be robust.
I know if I see any slightly worried looking mums hanging around watching the kids, they'll be MN'rs assessing the uniform 😂

It's Adidas

DS has had these ones too:

www.amazon.co.uk/Kickers-Unisex-Adults-Tovni-Trainers/dp/B06XX72FXQ/ref=sr_1_6?psc=1&s=shoes&keywords=velcro&th=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1551377101&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_srvg_1642288031%3A14223219031