Join in here if your PFB is off to secondary school in September or if you have any advice for thew newbies

[ChippyMinton]

DS is obviously taking it all in his stride and I am quietly fretting investigating the practicalities of high school life. Anyone want to join me?

With trainers for secondary school be careful not to get black soled ones that will mark the sports hall - we nearly fell into that trap last year (though I think some brands are non-marking).

We found there was masses of homework at first and it was a bit of a shock to the system, even though we knew it was coming. In hindsight I think it was a good wake-up call.

We bought about three rucksacks until we found a really good, quite expensive, one that protects his back from the huge load he has to carry.

What rucksack did you get in the end Cats?

Pannetone can't find a brand name on it, but I think it was a Black's own brand one. He's a bit of a string bean physique-wise and the straps aren't too far apart - he says his books feel much lighter in it than the two that preceded it.

List on the front door of things to remember each day helped us too: phone, water bottle, money, fruit, PE kit, Art stuff etc etc. I also have his timetable and a time table of after school clubs up in the kitchen too, as it gets a bit complicated.

When he was given his timetable we scanned and saved on the PC - which has been handy for when he and his friends have lost their copies.

I have DTSs starting secondary in September. Dreading the expense of 2 sets of kit I must say. They had their 'taster' day last week which they enjoyed. They are thankfully in the same tutor group as all through primary they were separated (not my choice).

I know I will cry when they finish primary in two weeks just as I did with DD (think I was more upset than her due to the realisation that she was growing up and time was moving on!) who has now finished school and will be starting college in September!

I will have a years grace from the school run, as I am hoping the DTSs will start walking on their own as we live very close to their new school, before DS3 starts primary next year when I shall start all over again - aarrrrggghh!

I do have a real worry about DTS2 who is currently working to a YR3 level in Yr6. His primary have never been very helpful and have never suggested any further intervention other than School Action+ which he has been on since Yr1. They have written him off as a troublemaker as we have had lots of behaviour problems too (just silliness, no nastiness). I requested further assessment in Yr5 as with secondary looming, I was afraid he would slip through the cracks and they have mentioned possible ASD which makes sense to me but we are still awaiting a full assessment (since Feb) and they have just told me that it won't happen before Oct at the earliest which I am fuming about as the Consultant assured me they would do it before he started Secondary so we could at least try to get any extra help he may need in place from the start.

DS1 is working to a Yr7/8 level thankfully as their primary have always given me the impression that they feel I have not done enough with DTS2 at home to help him catch up which has been so annoying as they don't seem to get how difficult it is to get him to do anything' let alone complicated projects which I would end up doing for him which defeats the point! He can't even tie his shoelaces which DTS1 mastered at age 7. At least they will be together and have each other which is a comfort. Stlll very worried though.

This thread is hugely helpful. I already have a ds in year 8 and his high school experience has been a disaster as he was diagnosed with AS in January and school has been a big battle from the off from homework to behaviour to even getting him there. He hates school.

However dd1 is starting year 7 in September and I feel as if we are experiencing high school for the first time because she is a lot easier than her brother and is looking forward to it although very nervous!

ds has been uncooperative, refuses to show me homework planner, refuses to do homework, refuses to behave, refuses to take pe kit in, refuses everything. arghhh

Have nothing to add as the DCs went to US high school (no uniforms and everything really well organised in terms of communication), but DontKnow -- get an assessment done privately asap. Don't wait til your number comes up.

We have had out induction evening, and DS has not been put in a form with even one of his friends. He has been put with two boys who have had a reputation for disruptive behaviour right through primary school. Now I know why DS's class teacher kept emphasizing that DS was very mature in his outlook and worked well regardless of who he was partnered with, when we had the last parents evening.

The form teacher is very experienced though, and DS seemed to like him. I definitely liked him, he is rather dishy.

I bought most of the school uniform DS will need today, just need to get the footwear for indoor and outdoor PE now.

Can anybody help? Ds had set his heart on one particular school but failed to get in because of his English and handwriting. I said I would get him a tutor and he could take the test next year and hopefully he would get in then.
In the mean time we put him down for the secondary school most of his class are going to and although we both had misgivings about the school we reasoned it was only probably going to be for a year and he would be with his friends, (in an interview he was asked who would he like to be in his class). He was feeling positive about everything and he knew he had a goal to work towards and with that he went to his induction day.
After his induction day on Tuesday he is refusing to go. He was upset that he was put in a class with only 1 person from his school (not his class) and the class seemed from what he said to be filled with loud bully boys from one particular school who set about the other child from his school and started bullying him. One of his friends had his leg broke and the whole thing has sent him into a downward spiral.
Can anyone recommend a school, I don't mind paying but not extortionate amounts, I don't mind travelling we are based north London / Herts borders.
Did look at Steiner schools but the dancing on youtube video of lesson put me off. In my head I was just imagining what ds would say.

Looked at Montessori in West Hampstead but the fees and extras and deposits made my head spin.

Prefer state but am at a loss to know which ones are good.

Because of where he was educated last September/October we did not get the chance to go round the different schools.

Sorry for invading this thread, thought i had started a new thread.

We had parents' meeting this week - we seem to have been there a lot of times already, and dd knows lots of older pupils so it is all quite familiar already, which is nice.

We got given an info pack with a booklet for dd with map, equipment they'd need, rules, where to go for help etc, plus a booklet for parents with a section for each subject about what they'd be learning in yr 7, which I thought was a great thing to do, don't know if it is standard now, but I"m sure there wasn't anything like that when I was at school.

Bit disappointed that it is a very small year - only 80 - there's a new head and I think a lot of people are waiting to see how things go. She comes very well spoken of though (from another local school) and neither us nor dd was that keen on the other option. Very much hoping we've made the right choice, dd definitely needs a bit of support to get the most out of school, and our gut feeling was that this school seemed most likely to provide it, but it is hard when you see that so many others have made a different decision. I guess we can only wait and see . . .

On the plus side dd is delighted with her form tutor, she knows her from induction sessions and says she is absolutely lovely. She also teaches drama which is one of dd's real enthusiasms, so fingers crossed for a good relationship there.

DS has his year 6 leavers show performance tonight. Hankies at the ready!

Aww, enjoy it
DS had his this afternoon - it was fantastic to see how they've all grown up since their first big performance in the Reception nativity!

We've got ours coming up soon too - next week
So few days left now at primary !

It was a wonderful show, they all did really well, and the song at the end....

A week left in primary for DS1, we get the school reports and SAT levels tommorrow.

Leavers party tonight, I am very , he is just excited!

Tomorrow is my DS's last day at primary school.

We have got the leavers concert in the morning which Im dreading as I feel very emotional and don't want to make a fool of myself (and my DS) by crying howling. Will I look like a right idiot if I wear sunglasses indoors

It is DS1's last day at primary today, I actually feel a bit sick.

White shirt ready, autograph book ready, and hankies (for me!)

Just been and got school uniform for dd - so far we have logo-ed polo shirts, sweatshirts and a fleece, plus school shoes (lace ups!), just need to get PE t-shirt now once they have her size in stock.

£120, but that did include the shoes at least! I guess it never felt like so much at primary as they didn't really wear uniform beyond the jumper to start with, then we got it in bits and pieces.

Question re name tags. Have bought Ds uniform for high school and got some iron on name tags. Cue horror from older dds who have left school now, saying he will be a laughing stock if he has name tags in his clothes at high school and will get picked on. I sent want to lose expensive blazers and kit, but don't want to make him any more of a target than he already is - overweight, academic, shy, hates sports, dreading high school. (And yes, we are trying to address the weight but with a sports hating child its not easy)

That's interesting. I have stocks of cash's labels, stickers etc from when my DC started primary, but nowadays I usually resort to scrawling their names with a sharpie pen! At least it's permanent. Watching with interest to see what the views are on this one!

Sharpie-merchant here, too. Ever since the novelty of sewing labels wore off. So since Y1 probably

Oh and dem, my ds lost a lot of tubbiness (not weight because he grew about a foot) over Y7. The longer commute, walking from class to class and more PE seem to have worked wonders :)

I don't think anyone has said this but apologies if it is a repeat - go to Lakeland or Poundland and buy about 6-8 little tubs with a lid and a large lidded tub. Label all the tubs and lids with a Sharpie pen. This is for food tech where they have to bring in 100g flour, 100g butter etc