just wondering, is going into secondary school with no primary school friends going with tougher?...

[FestiveGrump]

would that be a problem or do children just get on with it? do children from the same primary school stick together in secondary school or do they make friends easily? ds1 is still in primary school, but thinking way down the line if we move then would it cause problems for him? he's in a small 1 form entry right now, so he knows most of the children up to year 6 and assume some of them move up to local secondary school too he'd see familiar faces... but what if they don't in new school new area? hope that makes sense!
thanks

My dd2 went into secondary without her primary friends. She did struggle a bit at first but did eventually make some new friends. We had to move her after two terms (for other reasons) and she's back with her primary friends now and much happier but if the other reasons hadn't happened then I'm sure she would have been fine.

My twins went on to single sex indies while all their mates went on to the local state secondary.

DD's is local and so are most of her class mates. She still text her old bunch of mates now and then but she has essentially moved on.
DS's school, on the other hand, is in the next town. As a result, all his classmates arent local. He has mates to talk to at school but they arent on the same 'wave length' as him. So he does from time to time miss his primary school mates.
All in all, it depends on the child. DD has more in common with her new class mates and DS is the flip side.

It depends on whether there will be large groups of children who already know each other at the secondary. Being the only one from your school is fine if most people are in the same position, but if 95 per cent of your classmates come from the same two or three primaries, it may feel a bit intimidating, as if you are the only one who doesn't know everyone else, and you may find it harder to break into friendship groups.

But having said that, a lot of children seem to take the move to secondary as a chance to ditch old friends they have moved apart from and make new friends they have more in common with.

DS was only one of two from his primary going to his current secondary, and although he was quite friendly with the one other boy who went, two years later they hardly see each other and he has a whole new bunch of friends.

DS didn't end up in a tutor group with any of his Primary school friends. He joined a lunchtime club and made lots of new ones. He plays footy and TBH that does help.

Both my dd's went to a different secondary school from all their KS2 friends and it hasn't been an issue. The school are very 'hot' on integration and work hard in the first half term to ensure that positive relationships are developed.

My son went to a school knowing no-one. He has settled in fine, especially as its not that uncommon in his school. Also, Most senior schools hold induction events to help everyone settle in. Also, we 've noticed that friends of his who are in the same school are not in the same classes, or mix with other pupils.

DD was only 1 of 3 who went from her primary to her secondary with an intake of 200 in her year. The other 2 were boys she was not particularly friendly with and were not in her class or house at secondary. She quickly made friends. Interestingly her small group of closest friends all come from different primaries and there were plenty of others from their schools who went, so it was not as if all the ones on their own joined forces.

Lots arrive at secondary knowing no-one but the school are well aware of it and have transition plans in place to help.

DS went with 9 from his small primary into a year with 180, whilst he was in the same form as someone from primary he has thankfully made a new group of friends and rarely sees the others from his primary.

It will be fine

Another one with positive experiences here. Actually, although DS and DD went to the same secondary school some distance away in DS' year there was a large group from his Primary and in Y9 we are STILL getting the same playground type moans and arguments that I have heard since Y4! DD on the other hand was one of 4 from her school in a 240 intake. She is in a separate tutor group and has made a whole host of new friends. She is very, very happy. School has a great transition policy though, it is a rural secondary school and has children coming from tiny village schools of 30 to children like my Dcs coming from 2 form entry schools.

DD knew no-one else in her year when she started in y7 this year. Has made a big crowd of friends as she has joined lots of clubs so has met people with the same interests. There is one local primary which sends a lot to this school but they all seem to be mixing in and are keen to make new friends.

Never did me any harm

We moved 200 miles in the summer holidays between me leaving primary and starting secondary. I had visited the school but didn't know a soul. I'm naturally fairly shy and my folks were a bit worried but I was fine. Theree was another girl in the same boat and the school paired us off. I also met someone on my first day who I clicked with - we're still friends now (although at opposite ends of the country) 24 years later. Gulp. I feel old now..

DS was the only child to go to his Secondary, from his Primary school. He was a bit daunted at first, and i felt terribly guilty for a while as to whether i'd made the right decision.. but it really didn't take too long for him to make some good friends, and he had a Sixth form 'buddy' meanwhile, to keep an eye on him.

Don't forget all the kids from previous schools tend to get split up into different forms anyway.