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Secondary education

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

what school bag does your y7/8 girl have? worrying 11 year old seeking style advice

79 replies

hatwoman · 25/07/2011 14:37

dd - dues to start y7 in september - chose one of these in pale blue the other day. Now she's not sure if she likes it Hmm. It hasn't actually been used yet so it could go back to the shop. It's a pita but because she is a bit of a worrier and has already had one difficult change of school I guess I'm prepared to change it. However neither she nor I have got any idea what every self-respecting 11/12 year old is using (not helped by our rural location meaning that we rarely even see the secondary school kids). I'd be really interested to know what your dds use (pics would be great) and what you/they think of her choice. many thanks.

OP posts:
coccyx · 26/07/2011 20:35

Only allowed rucksacks at my DD's school. backcare is high on list

GraduallyGoingInsane · 27/07/2011 17:17

DD 1 is going into Year 11, and had this last year:
www.jackwillsclothing.uk.com/uk_product_ladies/bags-and-purses/bags-and-purses014/
She swore blind that she would use it for ever and ever, but is of course now eying up a handbag style bag.

DD2 is going into Year 9, and had this (in a slightly different print) last year: www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-15905-cath-kidston-spot-saddle-bag.aspx

She now wants this: jackwills.com/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductRef=010215&Option=010215128 but as it has no zip or compartments, I don't think she's going to convince me.

DD3 is going into Year 7 Shock and is currently eying up this, but with purple writing:
www.gola.co.uk/store/products/view/messenger_bags/REDFORD%20SPARKLE/White|Fuchsia

DD4 is going into Year 4, and also wants a Gola bag Hmm but I can probably persuade her into another year of backpacks.

Although I'd love them all to carry backpacks, apparently that is deeply uncool and I'm a fool for even suggesting it. Judging by the girls in Year 7/8, the bag your DD picked out will be fine.

HSMM · 27/07/2011 21:21

My DD just finished Yr7 and they all had things that looked like big handbags. Primark stuff was popular, as well as designer gear.

Annunziata · 27/07/2011 21:43

DD1 has just left school (sorry, Scottish system here and the English confuses me!)

All the older girls had dark leather handbags or satchels.

DD2 is going into second year. Paul's Boutique is seen as the height of fashion somehow but she thinks that they are vile and has a big brown leather one.

Will she have a locker?

Fennel · 28/07/2011 13:13

My unworldly 11yo is about to start secondary and has a backpack that I approve of and that's perfectly fine at primary, but I am suggesting we go shopping a week into the new term once she's cased out what the others have in terms of bag, also shoes, also lunchbox. So we won't buy anything really before term starts in case it's all wrong for secondary school.

dd actually doesn't care at all about any sort of fashion or trend but I worry a bit for her.

MrsDaiBreadTwo · 28/07/2011 15:43

I tore an article out of a newspaper magazine on this subject for my DD (8th Grade - think that is Year 9) as she loves to see what everyone in England is wearing. The article showed groups of girls from three schools in the same town - the first Paul's Boutique was the standard, the second was Cath Kidston and the third was Longchamp Shock.

This is what my own DD hopes to be carrying next school year - you have to scroll down a little to see it.

coccyx · 28/07/2011 20:16

. how can a lunchbox be wrong. Why get drawn into this nonsense

seeker · 29/07/2011 07:45

Coccyx-do you have older children?

uninspired · 29/07/2011 08:18

Grin seeker

Here it's those foul paula boutique bags that seem to be all the rage. £60ish for a vile bag that falls to bits in no time Confused

pointydog · 29/07/2011 08:33

Big shoulder handbag style is the thing to have for my dds.

It changes quite a lot from school to school though.

FlyMeToDunoon · 29/07/2011 09:04

Big shoulder handbags here too with a smattering of Cath Kidston satchels at the posher schools. Over the last year (yr7) DD has gone through 3 bags. The most successful was a Primark number.

jgbmum · 29/07/2011 09:04

I am Shock at some of the bags being used here - esp the £249 Jack Wills bag - seriously? For a 15 year old?
I am so relieved my DSs were both happy with common or garden rucksacks, but I think I had better start saving for when DD starts next year Grin

pointydog · 29/07/2011 09:23

Well, the £250 bag was bought by GraduallygoingInsane.

jgbmum · 29/07/2011 19:37

Grin pointy dog

GraduallyGoingInsane · 30/07/2011 12:38

Haha you are right! Maybe I should name change to CompletelyAndUtterlyInsane! In my defence, it was part of her Christmas present, not just a school bag, so I gave in. Hides in the corner - anything for a quiet life

GraduallyGoingInsane · 30/07/2011 12:39

That should read anything for a quiet life

seeker · 31/07/2011 07:52

Not sure tha makes it any better - part of her Christmas present???????? I'm not letting my dd see this, she'll be on your doorstep claiming she's your dd' long lost twin!

heronsfly · 31/07/2011 07:57

My dd3 14 has just bought herself an ond style satchel for next term,they seem to be the new trend round here.
dd2 12 has a Fred Perry messenger bag.

MaryBS · 31/07/2011 08:25

DD has a Nike bag, but other than that she likes Animal. She is going to Secondary school this September as well.

GraduallyGoingInsane · 31/07/2011 15:52

seeker, my DD would soon set her straight, you see I am from time to time the meanest mum in the world...

ALL the other girls in her year have an iphone, and ALL the other girls in her year are allowed to roam the streets until 5am, and EVERYONE wears eyeliner to school except her, and NOONE else's mum makes them do SO much around the house, and its just SO LAME that I ask what homework she has because she would like TOTALLY do it anyway you see. Wink

plonker · 31/07/2011 23:35

Dd is starting Y7 and has picked out this one.

I have no idea how it fashionable or stylish it is, but dd likes it ...and it is rather cute Grin

plonker · 31/07/2011 23:38

treas - I love the red leather satchel! I want one myself!

jellybeans · 31/07/2011 23:47

In fashion at DD's school

Gola bags, 'pop' bags, stereo bags, wheres wally etc and that messenger style kind of bag
'big handbag' style bags
paul's boutique bags

The sort OP posted would be fine. I can only speak for girls though. Rucksacks are a no-no for anything past the first bit of year 7.

jellybeans · 31/07/2011 23:49

plonker, they are very fashionable, have seen lots of the tado ones at DD's school, they do last quite well aswell.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/07/2011 23:56

250 pounds on a school bag seems bonkers to me; I wouldn't spend that much on a bag for myself so deffo wouldn't for dds.

Currently dd1 has a choice of - big purple Clarks bag or old fashioned satchel type and dd2 has a Gola one.

Now - I have promised them both new pencil cases this summer but they have to keep the bags for a while more! They usually have Paperchase or Emma Bridgewater pencil cases.