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Secondary education

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

Anyone with a year 7 starting today?

211 replies

seeker · 05/09/2012 09:15

I feel like a cat on hot bricks- can't wait for 3.30!

OP posts:
slipperandpjsmum · 06/09/2012 10:28

Oh I like the idea of going to the loo in lesson time! Although just need to help him muster up the nerve to put his hand up to ask now!

minesawine · 06/09/2012 10:36

Had to drag my DS into school crying today. He had been (sort of) looking forward to starting today but as we drove up to the school he had a huge panic attack. I had to spend 10 minutes calming him down and mopping up the tears. He is now in school but I an on tenderhooks wondering how he is and whether he is ok. I am sure he will be fine but I am so worried for him.

slipperandpjsmum · 06/09/2012 10:41

Its horrible isn't it minesawine worrying about how their day is going and feeling helpless.

Vickles · 06/09/2012 10:42

Thinking of you all today. Just reading all your stories is making me cry! I've got this all ahead of me. My oldest is in Year 3... And I can't believe she's halfway through primary school! Arrggh! Shazjack1 - I hope today is a better day for your boy. Minesawine - huge virtual hugs coming your way. Xx

CiderwithBuda · 06/09/2012 11:14

Oh minesawine. How worrying. I so remember going through this last year. I would come home and just sit and worry all day. (And eat crap - I gained a stone!)

Fingers crossed he will be ok.

Well mine went in ok although my planned calm start was thwarted by John Lewis delivering my new desk just as we were setting off and DH being on the phone so I had to deal with it. Quite why DH arranged a call for that time first day back is beyond me really. He works from home and wanted to be around but then booked a call. Oh well.

Managed to persuade DS that other mums were going in and I could too! He just wanted me to drop him. Met his housemaster and tutor. Tutor had called yesterday to say DS would be buddying a new boy so met him and his dad. Poor boy was very nervous. Hopefully DS will be nice to him. Not that he is not nice but hope he is confident enough himself to take the lead a bit and help the new boy.

House now very quiet!

Emsislovely · 06/09/2012 11:20

My daughter started for her first full day today. She's the only girl of 3 pupils to go to the comp. am feeling desperately sorry for her and need advice I can give her re helping to settle in also reassurance for me that she WILL settle!

lljkk · 06/09/2012 13:34

Everyone tells me that the social circle changes completely within the first 3 weeks of secondary; almost no one keeps the same close friends they had at end of y6. I've seen it for myself in a few cases.

seeker · 06/09/2012 14:24

Somebody told my dd that you spend year 8 trying to get rid of the friends you made in haste in Year 7..........

OP posts:
Blu · 06/09/2012 16:16

minesawine - I hope it went better than he feared, and he wil feel happier tomorrow. Very upsetting to have to leave him like that Sad

gazza - excellent news that it all worked out perfectly. Onwards and upwards after all that nailbiting!

I am very impressed with DS's school - he has some mobility difficulties and a member of the Inclusion dept called me this morning, to ask how he had found his first day, check all the details she needed in order to inform all staff of his needs, ask if there was anything we wanted to talk about, make sure we (parents and Ds) knew who to speak to if we had any worries....really good!

catwoo · 06/09/2012 16:21

i WISH THEY WOULD PUT ON SOME CLUBS AT LUNCHTIME for the first years this week.they have been going 15 minutes early into lunch , which means their break is an hour and 20 minutes which seems like an eternity when you don't really know anyone.

Blu · 06/09/2012 16:46

Clubs would be a good way for them to start making friends. My impression is that kids are sticking to old primary school friends for the moment, which must make it extra hard for those who have none.

PropositionJoe · 06/09/2012 17:01

I think you're right blu. Unfortunately DS2 is one of those with none. I think he will struggle for the first few weeks, hopefully not for longer.

lljkk · 06/09/2012 17:38

Well, that was amusing.
This afternoon the HT PA phoned me personally to apologise for their lack of organisation in helping DS start today. She was quite profuse about it. The HT apologised personally to DS for the fact that he had no timetable, didn't have an assigned buddy, basically we (he) had to fly by the seat of his pants in figuring out what to do first day. He went thru a bit of induction with the new yr7s before someone figured out he didn't belong with them. DS says HT sounded genuinely angry, like she wanted to fire someone over it. They chopped & changed his buddies & form group today from what I was half-told in June (I've had no official comms from the school since late June).

This after I came on MN and said I was concerned at the lack of school organisation, and that I was pretty sure this school had too little experience with new entrants after Sept of yr7, so they really wouldn't have their act together. Oh NO, I was told emphatically, even the most popular over-subbed schools have frequent new starters mid year part year late year all the time, they'll handle it well and smoothly, they'll know what they are doing. Yeah right.

And although HTPA said that DS would come home with a timetable... he didn't! I am not surprised, but he's got the same timetable as close mate so will just follow him around, I guess. Hope close mate isn't ever ill or away on holiday.

Oh a positive note, DS had a great day! He's in with his friends & is happy as Larry. Which is the only thing that really matters.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 06/09/2012 17:49

Hello Blu, did your DS end up going to D? (memory like a sieve...)

Tansie · 06/09/2012 20:40

Interestingly, I think some of the original Academies that were built on the ruins of old, failing comps designed the loos so that they were bully-proof. Opening straight off the main drag of the school, walls just high and low enough to ensure modesty, knee to chest hidden, but open enough to allow bypassers to sort of see in!

As for looong lunch breaks, I am torn. There is s good comp near us whose new HT said, on prospective parents open day, that she believed in long lunch breaks to allow pupils to socialise and to get involved in one of the many clubs; she said that she believed it was a valuable part of education to learn how to use tracts of time beneficially without complete supervision. Their school day is something like 8.30 to 3.45 or 4pm.

Ours day is 8.35 to 2.55pm with a 35 minute lunch break! 1400 kids descending on a lunch hall!

I think the ideal would be an hour or so with stuff laid of for the newbies.

Blu · 06/09/2012 22:00

MrsDTK - yes! Smile We're all v happy about it. How are your lovely lads doing?

TheFallenMadonna · 06/09/2012 22:18

I am a secondary teacher and am finding it a bit disconcerting to be on the other side. DS started his secondary school on Tuesday, and seems to be taking it all totally in his stride. I am quizzing him madly on setting (only set in Maths for now, apparently), whether he is talking to new people, what his lessons are like...

He seems so much older all of a sudden...

bizzey · 06/09/2012 22:51

Hi I am joining in here if I may...was goinng to start new thread ..but thought someone here might understand ! !!ds1 has just completed day 3..he has done his history and drama homework and decorated and (WE) have covered it in the sticky plastic stuff...

I said ok enough for now we will do others at weekend ....he looked at me with sunken eyes at 8.30 pm and "I think they all have to be done by tommorow "!!!

I have finished off covering his books while he collapesed into bed !!
2 subjects he dosent have tomorow so he can learn how to do it himself at weekend ..

Anyone else being a bit "soft" on their DC'S at the moment...I have insited homework is done in bed room...even though he says "it is lonely up there "Sad

TheFallenMadonna · 06/09/2012 22:55

My DC have always done thir homework in the kitchen, and I don't see why DS can't continue to do that. He gets home before the rest of us, and has been making a start. While watching the Paralymics I think. Mind you, I used to do my homework in front of the television when I was at school!

serin · 06/09/2012 23:03

Don't they just fallenmadonna! Our DS asked for a double bed in his room so his girlfriend can stay over, he hasn't ever had a girlfriend Hmm

serin · 06/09/2012 23:06

Sorry thread moved on there! That was in response to Fallens quote that they seem older!

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 06/09/2012 23:08

Day 1 went pretty ok, day 2 less successful. She couldn't find anyone she knew, didn't want to eat lunch at a table in her own so went and ate in the toilet. Am trying to get her to try to arrange in advance to meet people at lunch tomorrow, really hope that works.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 06/09/2012 23:17

Blu - I'm glad the first few days are going okay for him Smile It's a bit of a change from Primary I think the school handles it well though, or at least it seemed to be fairly stress free both times we've experienced it. Boys are settling back in, whinging about having to get up in the morning, usual chaotic rush to get up and out so they get to school in time. DS1 nags DS2 like a boss to get him to the bus stop in time; saves me doing it...

FarrowAndBollock · 06/09/2012 23:53

We nearly didn't send DC to the school he started this week as we were worried it is so strict and that we didn't see too many laughing faces. It does get good results though and most of his friends were going.

First few days went well, but this evening we have had a 'it is very serious and not much fun' and I have been brutally reminded that this was our initial reservation, that we tried to ignore.

Are most senior schools 'not much fun' and very serious? [can't remember from own school days].

visualarts · 07/09/2012 06:47

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