Anyone want a secondary transfer support thread?

[HarrietJones]

dd1 is going up in September, had an interview with her year tutor last week and induction days in a couple of weeks.
I've started looking at uniform & it's getting closer!

Yes I have fond memories of doing my homework on the bus on the way to school!!! I was shocked at the amount of homework - approx 8hrs per week the school said at the open night - but knowing my DS (who loves to day dream!) it will be at least 16hrs!!!! Plus the fact that its an early start and late finish he won't get home until qtr to 5. I suppose there will be lots of quiet early nights come september?

OhYouBadBadKitten yes thanks, I did sleep better . I can't believe 1.5 hours of homework a night either, it seems an awful lot for the first year. I'm expecting from September to Christmas to be rather fraught (to put it politely!).

well ds has had induction day, really liked it, in a class with 3 others from his school so quite happy about that,he managed to get the bus ok which was slightly worrying me as it's only his 2nd time on public transport!!! We had the parents meeting, met his form teacher - young male teaches PE - everybody thinks he's great - present/past pupils and ds likes him as well so thats a plus, was also told to expect 3 lots of homework a night - that will be a shock to me as his primary don't do homework as such, had the leavers play this week and filled up - can;t quite believe he is leaving this year, still got the leavers service to go, tissues at the ready

It's lovely that so many of you are getting to go to the school and meet teachers. They really focus on the children going, every term years 5 and 6, but apart from one open evening we haven't been.

I don't think I did 1.5 hours of homework when I was doing 'A' levels. Actually, that explains a lot.

Marking place too.

DS1 joins in september. He is fine about it - I am not!

DS2 had his induction day last week and we had new parents' evening. He's been put in the same tutor group as the other 3 children from his primary, which is a relief. He has ASD and a statement of SEN, so he's getting a few extra visits. (Smug) He's going in for an hour on Monday to have lunch in the cafeteria with a TA. It's all peachy so far, but we'll see how it goes next year. They set them for everything from Christmas so not long with their tutor group before they all get mixed up again.

DS1 is just finishing Y8, so I've got homework sussed. Loads in first term to get them used to the idea, then it seems to have slackened off a lot. More like 1/2 hr to 1 hour 4 times a week. A lot of h/w seems to be finishing off work from the lesson, so if they get on with it in school there's not so much to do at home.

that sounds a bit better on the HW front EllenJane. I had visions of poor dd having to give up everything else in life and we would see her again next summer hols.

Mine starts in September too. We got some of the uniform today (some they didn't have and we have to order). She is soooo excited!

Uniform, I can't wait to do that, I can remember going to get my secondary school uniform and it was such a big day (mind you it was a boarding school and we got to wear a cloak, it was beyond cool) I wanted to get DS1's now so it's done but he's growing at an incredible rate atm so his teacher told me to wait until the end of the holidays. New shoes for him yesterday and they fit me perfectly (and I'm a six!). Where did our little babies go?

How do the 'forms' work. DS1 will be in 7:6 (and then 8:6, 9:6 and so on) but apparently that is only for first thing in the morning. I would have thought they would be together for everything apart from the streamed classes? He has exams in the first week to be streamed, I can't see him doing as well as he can because it will be so different and he will flap (probably literally, could be interesting in the exam hall!). Must remember the SN co-ordinator woman is on top of everything and not panic too much.

Hmm, in DS's school they do all lessons in his tutor group or form until those lessons are set. Schools round here all set at very variable times. DS's school sets science straight away from primary school assessments, maths from Oct and everything else including PE from Christmas. Others only set for maths for the whole of Y7. Swings and roundabouts, nice to be in a stable form and get to know everyone, but also nice to be (correctly) set so work is at the right pace.

My DS is still in size 2 1/2 shoes. [hgrin]

Size 9! Dear goodness how tall is he? We are only very average size people so having DS who is obviously going to be a long one is odd. I'm 5'4" and a half and DS1 is already 5 ', he's going to tower over me at this rate.

EllenJane I hadn't thought about him being set in all his subjects, just thought it would be maths/science. It's confusing in his school as they can opt to be taught in either Welsh or English for maths and science. Glad I'm not the teacher who has to work out where to put everyone in the correct combinations of language and abilities! The set in the first week and then review at half term and christmas so I guess they have a few goes to get it right. I can't believe they set for PE too, that's a really good idea when you think about it!

PE setting has been brilliant for my geeky, non-sporty DS1. No worries about super competitive 'jocks' or always being picked last. He still hates PE, though! They set the three humanities together, languages, ICT, art, music. The only mixed ability subjects are technology. It has worked well for DS1 who is in high sets for maths, science and ICT but lower ones for humanities, French, art etc.

As far as I know setting is done from Xmas.

Gosh, mild, my DS2 is really squirty, only 4' 10" and in age 9 trousers ATM (short legs!) and he's 12 soon!

Wow mild, are your yourself above average in the height department? Or is your DH the one that gets all the 'is it raining up there' jokes? DS1 is the tallest boy in the school, although there are taller girls (who all look about 16). Last time I went in for an assembly the boys all mooched in looking like, well, boys followed by these tall, self assured women who are apparently the same age!

So being a fairly rotund 5' 4" myself, DS2 doesn't stand a chance!

I too am a hobbit 5'4" and rotund, I have no idea where my three long lean boys have come from! DH is 5'10" and slim. 6'2" yum, that's the perfect height for a bloke. Are you one of those beautiful tall families that waft about looking fabulous? I sympathies with the looking for shoes. DS1 is tall (although not a patch on your boy!) but very very slim and mostly leg (his legs are as long as mine even though he is 4' shorter). Trousers are a nightmare, especially as they don't do adjustable waistbands in teen trousers. Still, I personally think it's worth it for having such fabulous legs.

Marking my place!

Ds1 starts september too. Gone for his induction day today - he was very excited and managed to walk all the way with 2 friends - nanny went and spied for me!! Bit worried that he only has 1 boy from primary school in his form but there are others he knows from cricket and football. He's not very sociable so don;t know how lunch and breaktime will work out