My sons first impression after his first few days of Secondary (Feel free to add yours!)

[QuintessentialOldDear]

He is generally very happy, but has noticed the following things worthy of a mention at home:

"Mum, they all have World Records of SPEED DRESSING!" He is in awe at how fast his classmates tie their shoelaces, button up their shirts and do their ties. He says, "There is this kid, he literally gets out of his blazer and trousers in ONE move, and JUMPS into his pe trousers and manage to pull them up along with his socks!" (I guess this must be the gang that has moved up from prep and knows the drill.... )

Nobody says a word in class. Everybody works. All the time.
"We line up by the classroom. We hang our blazers on the back of our seat, we stand behind our seat not saying a word until teacher tells us we can sit down. Otherwise there is Saturday detention"

Oh dear.

I wouldn't have thought you'd need to have attended a prep school to dress yourself efficiently. My five year old dresses himself in a jiffy, and he goes to a run of the mill state primary.

Sorry for that comment then.
My son also dresses efficiently. But he said looking at his classmates he felt really slow.

Don't be sorry.

I suppose if you are new to ties, it takes a while to become proficient. But hopefully he's had shoes with laces before now.

He had ties with elastic at Junior until Y4, "real" tie from Y5! He can tie his tie and his shoe laces. He is reasonably fast. He has never worn a blazer to school before.

In primary they wore pe kit the whole day on PE days, he has never had to change out of uniform and into sports kit and back, in school before.
His amazement was more at the techniques for jumping in and out of clothes at rocket speed!

Of all the things he has experienced this first week, the mind-blowing one he chose to share, was about changing in and out of PE kit.

its taken my 11yr old 25minutes to put on his uniform this morning, i've no idea how he does it after PE! He still can't do his tie and hates wearing it.

He said his work is more complicated, and after seeing his first load of homework, i agree

I liked the First, middle and High school system i had much better

QuintessentialOldDear, my daughter is now in Year 8 and was the slowest dresser ever before going to comp, they have a maximum of three minutes to change (sometimes two if teacher is having an off day) and after a little practise, she can do it. I don't think she cares what the teachers thinks, but loves being with her friends so doesn't want to get left behind.

There seemed to be lots of threats of detention in the first few weeks. Obviously they want model pupils, but I think it's more to get them thinking, acting sensibly and showing respect. They are somewhere unfamiliar and don't really know what's expected of them. I'm impressed though everyone is doing what they are asked, there are one or two that just can't/won't even try to get it right! Once he's settled in, the tutors will get to know him and the odd step out of line will be forgiven, for example there were threats of detention if they forgot a workbook, homework to start with, my daughter has done this a few times over the year, but I think they know that generally she takes what's needed.

swannylovesu, when they've had time to assess them, they will put them into sets and he will be working a lot more to his own ability. All he can do is his best.

OP, love the description on your son's school. Sounds like a very good one. Why 'oh dear' ?

Oh dear as in "I hope we are not in for any Saturday detentions any time soon"!

Saturday detentions?

On a Saturday?!

Aren't they supposed to have a life outside school?

My DD seems very happy with every aspect of her new school except the geography - can't blame her, we got lost on the open evening! But she's worried about being late to class because she's orienteering somewhere ...

Ah, EAT, that really touches me...I used to get sooo lost at secondary and was always sweaty and flustered about getting to classes on time.

DD has decided maths is too easy and Spanish is terrifying.

On the other hand, we were on our way to school/work this morning, we were barely at the end of the road when her name was called out by a pair of girls. She's obviously made friends already as she skipped off ducking our best attempts to embarrass her with kisses/cuddles.

My DD's new freedom has gone to her head somewhat and she keeps popping off to charity shops and French markets with her new school friends.
We had to have words about letting me know where she was at all times earlier this week...

Well, it has been discovered that ds is "a natural" on the trombone, the french horn and the trumpet. It seems he cant get the tones and play tunes on it. (I was there, and heard it) So now, he wants to be in a brass band. Not the worst place to be!

Is there a french market and charity shops near school?

Oh, and new of this week: "Mum, dont follow me. Stay away from me. In fact, why dont you go home now, and I will come later".

My little boy....

DS is out the door at 7.10 without a backwards glance, and has so far managed 3 different routes home, on two different bus routes from 3 stops - he loves his Oyster Zip card, all of London is his to explore

At the start of the week all my DS was concerned about was wearing his blazer. He pulled it off as soon as school finished and said he had been hot all day and they are not allowed to take it off unless sitting at their desks! His other comment was that he had been 'tucked in' all day ::snort:: so different to wearing just a polo shirt at Primary ......

It is all change for us and them, isn't it?

polo shirt and trousers obv

Oyster cards are fab.
Ds is an authority on bus routes in London and Surrey...likes getting the X26 from Croydon to Heathrow just to see the airport.

"Awesome" is y7 DD's summary of the 1st 2 days.
Now, if only y9 DS could find his locker key, sigh. And if only the school website gave me any clue what procedure to get another key. (argh).

Ds has had 3 whole days in a school setting wiithout being bullied. This is something he never experienced in primary so so far it's been a winner.

Iljk send your DC to the finance office.

At least they are the people responsible for locker keys at our school.

Else reception are 'the font of all knowledge', jolly nice and infinitely patient with stupid questions.

Agador I know that feeling long may it continue.

I think it took DD1 until some point in Y9 before they have up trying to get a reaction.

She say's they finally seem to have got bored and run out of unpleasant jokes she's heard before. Also I think most of her GCSE groups are nice and want to do well.

And yes, she has matured and learnt a few more social skills, which reduces their excuses for vileness.

Also school have been very good, both in actually dealing with the few incidents they have spotted, providing some one she can talk to for the ones they didn't and letting her be a librarian. Therefore, she can avoid them at lunch and break.