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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Anyone want a secondary transfer support thread?

345 replies

HarrietJones · 13/06/2011 09:19

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!

OP posts:
Fennel · 30/08/2011 19:11

hi

dd1 is starting yr 7 on Monday and I was nicely chilled out about it til this week, and now I'm busily worrying. She's very enthusiastic but I worry cos she's, well, a bit weird. Not your normal 11yo girl at all, utterly oblivious to fashion and peer pressure and what everyone else does. Very sweet and lovable, quirky, but hmm how far does that get you at secondary?

I am also not sure whether to buy football boots and other things on the PE kit so we have left some items to see if everyone else has them.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 30/08/2011 20:38

Fennel - how many girls will there be starting next Monday? If there are 120, let's say, there must be a few your DD1 will find a connection with. Here's to a good start!

themildmanneredjanitor · 31/08/2011 04:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/08/2011 07:26

tmmj - I'm not sure how long the ruler is, but there a mathematical set in whsmoths that has a folding ruler, that might be 30cm - dunno if that helps at all?

whoknowswho · 31/08/2011 07:34

DS starts on Monday. He can't wait! Got all uniform and shoes. Spent yesterday sewing name tags into everything - yawn!! How do you label shoes? - DS said the foot shaped stickers we had for primary are a definite no-no!! He's using his bag and pencil case rom primary he's just not bothered with the fashion trends at all!

whoknowswho · 31/08/2011 07:36

Yeah DS has that whs set it is a 30cm folding ruler!

mummytime · 31/08/2011 07:39

Oh in my experience secondary school is much better for quirky kids. In a year group of 300 there must be someone like you/you get on with. It just takes a while to find them. There is also less conformity than in primary school, teachers are seen less often which means they don't impose their personality/opinions on a class (even if accidentally).

I'm just about to reassess uniform for 2 kids, one of whom I want to buy as little as possible as next year it will be 6th form (yikes! that is frightening). Now just keep breathing, it will be fine!

themildmanneredjanitor · 31/08/2011 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fennel · 31/08/2011 13:37

I think about 130 girls and 130 boys. She has done fine at 3 primary schools in terms of making friends, but her school is quite accommodating, quirkinesss seems fairly acceptable there, and several of her close friends there are boys - she often has more in common with the boys. She's the sort of child who still never brushes her hair or worries about clean clothes, she's happier grubbing around in the dirt looking for bugs like a little kid than discussing "girl" things. Her current career plan is to be a hermit, alone on a remote island off the Scilly isles.

whoknowswho · 31/08/2011 17:37

TMMRJ -Just been to tesco extra and saw a really long see through pencil case - like the ones you get for exams - would definitely fit a 30cm ruler!

Coconutty · 31/08/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheOriginalBanshee · 31/08/2011 21:50

Feeling sick sick sick with nerves! DD starts on Wednesday and seems very calm about the whole thing whilst I am having kittens.

She will be travelling by bus (which she's never done before). I'm worried she'll miss her stop on the way back home and get lost, that she won't recognise her stop at all and will stay on the bus until it reaches another town entirely! I'm worried she'll lose her phone as well.

2gorgeousboys · 31/08/2011 22:57

Getting scarily close here - 1 more day until DS1 starts. I feel sick but trying to be calm and positive as we had tears from DS1 last night as he's worried about going.

Hoping to have a lovely day tomorrow, we're going stationary and school bag shopping.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/09/2011 08:19

Same here Fab - I've taken dd to the stop a couple of times now and told her exactly where to ring the bell so the bus stops at the right place. dds school doesnt allow phones, so a new dimension of terror as they dont seem to realise that phone boxes are practically vanished.
oh gosh, its tomorrow.
haircuts and playing with friends today.

TheOriginalBanshee · 01/09/2011 10:55

OhYouBadBadKitten- I'm not Fab, I'm afraid!

I didn't realise there was a well known poster called 'TheOriginalFab' until after I'd chosen my name. I quite like 'TheOriginalBanshee' as it's what dd calls me when I'm having a rant about something or other Grin

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/09/2011 12:38

ooops - sorry TheOriginalBanshee - I shouldnt skim read! My fault!

themildmanneredjanitor · 01/09/2011 13:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 01/09/2011 13:48

ds (yr9) has induction session on Monday and starts on Tuesday. Think we're kittted out now. Hasn't played rugby in 3 years, dislikes contact sport and lacks coordination (dyspraxic), so is dreading it.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/09/2011 13:52
Toffeefudgecake · 01/09/2011 13:59

Can I join in too, please? DS1 starts his new school on Monday. He hasn't been to school since February because of anxiety and OCD, so it is a huge challenge for him. He is now on Prozac, which has really helped, and he will have someone from the Education Office looking out for him on his first couple of days - but I'm still really, really nervous for him. I took him to buy sports kit yesterday and didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of him trying on a rugby head guard - he is such a pale, skinny little boy that it's absurd to think of him playing rugby.

And then there's the 30-minute walk to school. All those roads to cross! He wants to do it with his friends, but I am simply terrified at him doing it without an adult. He had a practise walk on Monday, with him walking ahead of me, and he is going to do it again with a friend tomorrow.

I have been distracting myself by focusing on all the practicalities, like labelling uniforms, but now it's getting so much closer I am feeling more and more jittery.

maypole1 · 01/09/2011 20:25

Fennel your girl sounds lie my boy is nt not borthered about the latest fashion and marches to the sound of his won drum

He starts of Tuesday and I meet his tutor on wednesday brought shin pads today wasn't even really sure what they were

Hair cut on Monday

Also brought some empty travel bottles from the £ shop filled them one with soap and one with body lotion and a mini deodorant for after PE and showers

He has a watch and brought a mack which is supposed to be plain black but could only find one with a red line down the right arm gurrr do you think it will be ok

maypole1 · 01/09/2011 20:29

themildmanneredjanitor. Wilkos has a long pencil case

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/09/2011 20:35

Shock I didnt think about pe smellies.

I'm sure the mac will be fine. I hope dds is ok - it said dark colours but she already has a dark pink one. Hope it is ok.

Toffeefudge, I hope it goes well.

2gorgeousboys · 02/09/2011 08:43

Well DS1 has been safely despatched. He looked so grown up in his uniform I can't believe my baby boy is going to secondary school (and I don't feel old enough to have a child at secondary!).

We managed a really calm morning and even though I felt sick managed to stay positive and upbeat for him.

DS1 asked me to walk down to school with him where we waited for his friend to get off the bus then for the first time ever he walked away with a wave and I didn't get a hug or kiss. That's it isn't it - my boy is growing up??! Sad

I'm sure he will return all excited and full of it tonight. Hope everyone else who has a child starting today has a good day.

whoknowswho · 02/09/2011 08:49

Well done 2georgeous you've done it!!! Let us know how he gets on. DS starts on Monday, so we're enjoying the last day of our hols today. I'm holding back the tears!!! Glad you mentioned not giving him a kiss - I don't want to show DS up on the first day!!!!!