come back and report all you parents of those sept brand new Yr7 kids, how did they get on?

[yehudiwho]

as a yr 6 parent I read those threads greedily in sept, tell us how they are now? seasoned old timers? what would you do differently, tips and tricks needed....

1. Get a locker
2. Don't buy everything on the list until you actually need it
3. Invest in a Mii backpack
4. Don't fret about them refusing to wear a coat. They eventually decide they would rather be warm than cold.
5. Don't expect to be anywhere near as involved/well-informed as you were in yr 6. They just need to get on with it themselves & fight their own battles, unless it's really serious.

Honestly? She is having an absolute ball! Loves school, has made lots of new friends, has joined 8 clubs in school (as well as her out of school stuff), seems to be coping with homework and social stuff balance.

Tips and tricks? Having a cool pencil case or bag - Cath Kidston still seems to be very in round here - she has a real CK pencil case, (only £8) but just a similar style oilcloth schoolbag. Is just a little thing, but does seem to help with fitting in a bit.

Multiple copies of timetable for easy packing of bag - and if they have a 2 week timetable can be useful for asult to note on calendar week a or b so theer isn't the 'is it German or Spanish this week?' panic in the morning. DD regularly seems to be texted by mates asking which week it is, or whether sir or miss has their books.

Well it's been a big of a roller coaster for us as DD1 has found it way more stressful than I was expecting. I hadn't realised before quite what an anxious girl she can be. She had been so worried about getting a detention fo forgetting her book or forgetting sims homework.

The school habd been very supportive though and things are now improving.

On a positive note, she loves most of hef lessons anx seems to bd progressing in leaps and bounds.

Nog sure what tips I would give other than expect the unexpected.

My daughter is now in Year 8, but looking back a year:

1. I'd have bought a strong backpack bag straight away - two broke in first term due to weight of books. We replaced with an Animal backpack, which is still looking good. Most of her friends have now swapped fashion bags for backpacks and one has a satchel.

1. As said, don't expect to be so involved. If my daughter was meeting up with someone new, going to their house, or them coming here, I asked for parents telephone numbers. All were happy to do this and seemed to agree. Also, handy for them if they don't understand homework and didn't have the courage to ask teacher.

1. Do get them a mobile phone. Mine hardly uses hers (we are just about to top up £10 for the first time since Sept 2012), but it's useful if she wants to go to school library or perhaps do something with a friend after school - she has no excuse not to let me know what she's doing.

1. As said, copy timetable so you have a copy the first term. Double check bag (on the quiet in morning) and if a book is missing, just happen to notice it on bedroom floor or wherever and ask if it's needed - don't tell them you've been going through their bag though!

The first term they do have a lot to think and worry about, so try to be supportive. Make sure they have all the materials they need for school and making projects at home. If you have a busy family weekend coming up, forewarn them so they can try and get homework done in the week. If they loose something, try not to get annoyed (even though you will be) - if it's labelled it turns up at some point. My daughter goes to a school with 1600 pupils and she's always managed to locate or had things turn up.

Homework was a shock, but it's now eased off. I expected my daughter to come in, have a chat and snack and then do homework and I got so frustrated and worried when she would come in, chat & snack, mess about on ipod for an hour, then insist on her shower/bath early and then start homework just as tea was ready. I've now found this works for her, she does get the work done and will work until 9pm if she has to and still seems to sleep.

You don't want to be approaching the school every 5 mins, but if you have concerns, do contact them. They are very approachable still and supportive.

So far so good. She has settled in and is doing well academically. She has a strong rucksack and I would say needs it as she has to carry a lot of stuff, however she wants a satchel style oil cloth bag as that is what everyone else has. I've told her to use her xmas money on one of that is what she wants.

Not made many new friends, she has made some that she sees in school only but yet to make any she sees ouit of school. However she went to school with plenty of people from primary so maybe she doesn't feel the need to make any new friends.

She has joined 2 clubs that she loves.

Let them do (within reason) whatever makes them fit in. DD wanted to wear vans, all black ones are allowed. I said no and bought school shoes which didn't last they fell apart, she is now wearing (fake, ASDA copy) Vans and is happy! Lesson learnt could have saved myself somemoney there!!

Reasonably good so far - a bit of a wobble with teasing (dd isn't the most socially adept) but her form tutor and head of year have been very good and it seems ok now.

Bags / pencil cases etc haven't been an issue here, dd just has a Karrimor rucksack style bag (though she isn't the type to be aware of what is 'right', see above . . .). They have an optional fleece as part of the uniform which solves the 'no coat' problem as it is light enough to just stuff in her bag - they do have lockers, but there isn't enough time to get back to the locker after last lesson and before the bus leaves.

Homework also doesn't seem to be a big issue, I'm not sure whether they really don't get set much or dd is doing it in the library, certainly not much gets done at home, however she got 'a' for effort for all subjects bar one on her first end of term report so I assume all is ok!

My DD is getting on really well. She was very nervous before she started but she's made some new friends as well as keeping in touch with ones from her old school.

The first half of the term absolutely wore her out though. She seems to be managing better now. It took her a little while to work out a schedule that she's comfortable with and she's learned (the hard way) how beneficial it is to pack her bag the night before.

I wish I'd known that they're not likely to use their football boots until after Christmas though. I'm not at all sure that the ones we got her in July will fit her by the time she actually gets to use them.

If the school keeps all books in school, you don't need a rucksack.

Use a crystal ball to know how much (or not) your child is going to grow!

Not sure if it counts as a tip, but I had expected to know less than in primary about dd's progress. In fact it is the opposite, as she brings her books home so I can see what she's doing, what her teachers have written etc. (Although perhaps I should assume that I only get shown the good ones )

Would have done differently? Buy two PE kits instead of a coat.

Week 2, called in to chat with form teacher as she 'seemed very quiet and shy'. Week 3, DD in 5-minute detention for chatting too much and being cheeky...

Otherwise, going fine!

DS1 has had a great start to Yr7, he seems to have settled well and is joining in with different things.

He is coping with the homework ok, though he does tend to try and put off the bits he gets with long completion dates on them - he is getting better at managing and planning his work.

He is so much more independent now.

Do not underestimate how tired it makes them for the first few weeks.

Brilliant & v happy as am I. I know more about her progress than I did at primary.

Do get a robust but trendy backpack

If travelling they need a mobile

Get a locker

Dont sweat lunches - most of them do eat. Maybe not what you've given them.

All going well here, although she is pretty tired and prone to complaining how "boring" school is when she needs more sleep. When not complaining, she tells me about all sorts of interesting stuff they are doing, so I don't think it's really boring .

Has joined lots of clubs. Beginning to choose different activities from best friend - but still got a great relationship with best friend. Has discovered that PE is fun, when run by proper PE teachers that are interested in helping abilities achieve. So my fears about choosing a "specialist sports college" for my non-team-player DD were totally unfounded. She's even opted to go and play netball for a whole weekend next term

My main tip is to play close attention to the school website. Make it your business to know what's going on. then you won't be taken by surprise by the random inset day that they assumed you knew about In our experience, two-way communication is great, in that I have direct email addresses for all teachers and they are very good at responding when there is a genuine concern. But they don't send letters/text reminding you of stuff that's on the website - you need to pay attention.

Do quietly rummage through bags occasionally, DD2 (Y8) still doesn't give me notes from school or hand in absence notes.

Grrr this is an ongoing saga from Y3 (when DD1 went to senior school and notes became her job).

Yes to reminding them if they have after school stuff or family stuff, they will leave their HW to the night before.

And don't be surprised if the organised one finds senior school tiring, stressful and gets in a pickle. While the dizzy one gets it sussed.

Still can't quite get used to DD2 finding senior school quite hard work, while (this weeks mock GCSEs excluded) my dizzy dyslexic had grown into it by now.

Yes do not be afraid to email school before disaster strikes.

It's not worth everyone having a nervous breakdown about a geography project, that DD had totally forgotten need a week to collect data.

He has settled so much better than I was anticipating. I worried about pretty much everything, and it has all been fine.

These are some of the things that helped:

I gave him a shelf at home where he could unpack his books as soon as he got home and organise them by subject. There's a timetable next to it so he can pack his books for the next day.

I made him a folder on the computer with subfolders for each subject and taught him to save his work. I also set up a template so that if he opens Word, it automatically inserts a header with his name, form & today's date.

We practised the route to and from school during the summer holidays.

DS loving it. So far nothing lost, no detentions, no late homework, loads of new friends, busy with concerts, plays, clubs, library - you name it, learning soooo much, plus a big smile on his face everyday. Couldn't have wished for a better start!

My advice for those still in Yr6 would be - SPEND A LOT OF FAMILY QUALITY TIME TOGETHER IN THE NEXT MONTHS! Once they start Year7 everything changes. They have no time anymore and school becomes the centre of their lives. They leave earlier, come back later (sometimes really really late). Then there is homework, music practice, sport matches, checking school email, sorting out bag etc... You blink and the day is gone. For me this was the big difference. I would like more time with him, snif. Obviously, I'm the one who needs to grow up

It's gone brilliantly. She loves everything about her school (highly-sought-after comp, girls only) and sails out the door every morning. She's gone from dizzy dreamer to organised worrier (in a good way). Like Takver, I thought I'd know less about her life, but actually know much more. She often asks me to help her pack her backpack. We make a list of the classes for next day and all the everyday items and we tick everything off the list as it goes in the bag. Mostly I think it's to get some chat time with me. That's when I hear all about her day and the little things that matter (like interaction with friends or teachers). It's all jolly jolly, which is a huge relief, as she was the only one from her school, so had to make a new network of friends. The schools all seem much better these days about transition and encouraging positive relationships.

Practicalities: I followed superb MN advice about Very Useful Box files, which help tremendously. The rest of her room may be a tip, but the books are in their place, and none get left behind (so far). A brightly coloured oyster sleeve is helpful too. Can't remember the other good advice from here. Oh yes, buy extra Prit Sticks, as they burn through them and you may hear a pleading request at 9.30pm. Stock up.

Good luck with it all. It's been an amazing adventure for us so far, and the relief when your child settles in well is immense. But it's more than 'settling in', it's a real blossoming as they take on more responsibility and even start to appreciate their parents (most of the time)!

YY to the glue sticks. How is it possible to get through so many?!

Also printer paper and printer cartridges. I have two at secondary school now and hate to think of the office supplies we'll get through when the other two join them.

DD1 is loving secondary school!

My tips would be: decent bag! DDs broke after about 3 weeks and so it was a mad rush trying to sort a better one for school the next day.

We went out and brought her a plastic tub for her to put all her books and textbooks in. Also we brought some high capacity ziplock bags like these. She has one for each subject, labelled and her text books fit in them too. It means when shes packing her bag she can just literally lift the bag out of her tub and its all together. A few of her friends have asked where we get them from as they like the idea.

Its hard adjusting to not being involved so much. DD attended a very small school (84 pupils) and I was very involved and know all staff and children well (DD2 still goes there) so its taken a lot of getting used to.

I also learnt I was the worrier, not her! She has taken it all in her stride!

I agree on the independence theme...my dd has just finished term. She really enjoys school with her boarding friends. Her attitude to learning has turned 180 deg. Gone are the days I need to cajole her to do her homework. Nowadays its done on time and correctly in the fastest possible time. This frees her up to play with her friends at school.

Although she does admit the work is quite easy.

advice don't worry she will make friends...there is someone out there that is similar to her and will connect with her.

She is so confident now she decided she didn't want an escort to fly back to Hong Kong. The school will make them very organised. She rang me when she arrived at the airport... after check in ...after immigration... waiting for the gate no' ..At the gate.....on the plane at her seat. arrival in HK....at baggage reclaim....coming out.

advice to international parents don't sweat it kids catching planes isn't a big deal. Although I didnt sleep from the time she left school.... until I picked her up from the airport. Its important for her to have a british sim card for her phone with 3G so can whatsapp and a HK she can change to on the plane...That way she is always in constant contact. Just so your sanity is preserved.

My daughter comes back from not to much contact at school.... stating the im busy....prep....got to go....To non stop chatting when she sees you....I love it...telling me all about her adventures with her new friends. So yes let them talk....

always give big hugs tooo......because they are never to old or get big hugs

Very relieved here, she's settled really well, absolutely loving it even though she didn't want to leave her Junior school.

Sorry to gatecrash

Does anyone have a child with ASD who has moved to mainstream secondary school with a statement?
How's it going?

Hi Doris, DS2 has ASD and has started at a mainstream secondary. No statement though.

The secondary school invited him to a transition programme with a dozen other children. One afternoon a week for six weeks in the second half of the summer term of Y6.

Then I had a meeting with them to go through his needs, and he made a pupil passport with similar information.

The school also runs a support group for parents of children with ASD, with visiting speakers.

The whole experience has been about 99% positive for him.

We had a couple of hiccups: he kept trying to take his tie off, so I told him he had to keep it on all day, which caused difficulties when getting changed for PE.

He knows how to tie shoelaces, but doesn't have the manual dexterity to make a secure knot/bow, so we gave up and bought him black elastic lock laces. No one has commented.

He has made two friends and voluntarily joined some clubs.

We moved to a new tine 20 miles away in June. DD2 commuted for the last half term of primary before starting at her new secondary school in September where she didn't know a soul.

It has been fantastic. She is enjoying school and has made lots of friends. What a relief!