It's the induction day visits to secondary school...

[Groovee]

Ds who is 11, is off on his high school 3 day visit. Dd is already thriving at the school and he will too. But he is my baby and I will be worrying for him even though I bet he has a ball.

Anyone else feeling nervous about the transition from primary?

Hi Groovee. DS2 is going in September (Year 8 in these parts). V nervous as DS1 didn't thrive there at all and is now at another school. (Long story but no reason to think DS2 will have same problems)

They only get one day in July . a 3 day visit is great.

Our whole LA do 3 days. They're trialling some thing a bit different this year where they will team build tomorrow morning, then either do their timetable or the sports. Then Wednesday they swap and Thursday is timetable.

Dd noticed the class lists had gone up today so told me what class he is in and who he is with. His cousin will be in his year too.

I had our year's guidance teacher and a learning support teacher come to me when I was in P7, away back in the 80's.

Ours is on Wed 2nd July, when the whole of ds year 6 class are away on holiday for 5 days, Mon-Fri.
The school realised their mistake months ago and tried to get the date of the trip changed but couldn't. Ds is the only one in his class going to his secondary school so am a bit gutted he will miss it:(

Argh, that was unfortunate :(

Dd3 has hers next Wednesday. She's home educated, so it will be her first day ever in school - she's looking forward to it, biggest concern is choosing an outfit ;)

Atiaofthejulli be careful about outfits, many secondary schools ask primary transition students to come in their primary uniform - as she doesn't have one wearing something simple (such as black trousers and a polo shirt) will save her from being 'different'. It won't help her if she knows no one there having not come up with friends from school to have to explain why she doesn't have a uniform.

My daughter is getting 2 weeks at her secondary school, she has had 1 week already
She is loving it and can't wait until August to go full time

Atiao I recommend black trousers and white shirt/polo
For the same reasons as previous poster

Thanks four - I think as soon as anyone asks which school she's at she'll be different anyway! And she's mostly of the opinion that different is not a bad thing and sod anyone who thinks otherwise She won't be wearing anything that looks like uniform, because that really would just be a bit weird. And we've gone through this twice before, so we're not worried - I was just amused earlier because she was making a very careful consideration of what would be a suitably sober outfit :)

Thanks four - I think as soon as anyone asks which school she's at she'll be different anyway! And she's mostly of the opinion that different is not a bad thing and sod anyone who thinks otherwise She won't be wearing anything that looks like uniform, because that really would just be a bit weird. And we've gone through this twice before, so we're not worried - I was just amused earlier because she was making a very careful consideration of what would be a suitably sober outfit :)

Ds has his next week. They go for two days. The majority of his schools yr 6 are going to the same school so he'll know loads there. He'll get to find out which of his friends are in his form class and which house he'll be in. They also have a day of lessons up there too. I seem to remember last years yr6 coming back with goody bags from their visit.

At the beginning of of July parents are asked to a parents evening at the new school to find out how things are done eg dinner money, transport and can buy items of uniform.

Exciting but scary times ahead.

DD2's induction day is next week - but she can't go. She's in a big production at our local theatre all week, and the induction day is the day of the schools' matinee so she has a day off school, to perform. Her sister (who is at the school she will be transferring to) and her brother are also in the show. She'd rather cut off her legs than not perform, and the new school is fine about it, but it is such a shame. Only 3 kids are going there from her school and the others are boys - induction day would have been a good way to meet some girls who will be going there (she does know a couple from G&T days). Ah well.

I think the whole borough, and possibly the whole county, do a transition day on 3rd July.
DD is going up with 45 from her year (of 60!), has had a variety of visits from the high school staff already and is going up there today for the morning. She seems to be really looking forward to it which is a big relief, how I will cope is another matter :)

We have a town wide transition day on the 3rd July too. Rather oddly dd's school want parents to come at 3pm and meet their teachers, quite an awkward time but I've managed to get the time off work, thank goodness.

9th July here only for the day. Still had nothing from the new school. All the children going to other schools have sent out loads of forms/information we have had nothing. Still not 100% sure if this is where she is going. Our appeal failed but we are high up on waiting list. Desperate to get uniform buying but the two schools have nothing in common except black shoes.

Well today is over, he's happy he has 3 boys he knows in his class and he has had a ball. He can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Dd isn't happy all day she's had "Your brother is a legend, your brother is so cute!" Oh and apparently he has cool astro boots!

My DD is going for her own personal transition morning tomorrow. She is home educated so they wanted to give her chance to look round the school without all the other new intake there. She can't wait.

AtiaoftheJulii she also has her outfit planned and like your daughter relishes being different and couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. Her response to "You are weird" is "So, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't weird".

She goes next week for the proper new intake day. One of her oldest friends is also starting at the same time so they are hoping they will be in the same form. I haven't told her that the Head of the Lower School has already told me he is going to put them in the same form.

DD2 has single induction day next week. Been told they do English, Maths and PE and some literacy tests. Also have new starter interview the week after, and CAT tests week after that - although they will have to be rescheduled as primary residential trip.

Further bonding residential mid-September, so sounds like plenty to help them settle in.

Shes very excited, even though seen school several times as DD1 only left last year.

CAT tests before the summer? Blimey. That's quite full on. DD2 is being slightly sad faced about missing out next week but at the end of the day. being in the show is far more important to her - performing is her raison d'être.

mychildrenarebarmy - that's really nice of your dd's school to do that for her :) Is she your eldest? One of my older daughters is at dd3's new school (but started in y9 so no y7 transition stuff) so the school at least have a good impression of home ed kids My ds found it reassuring when he realised that the whole process of moving from room to room for each lesson would be new for nearly all the primary schoolchildren too.

Groovee glad it went well for him! Hope the next couple of days are just as good :)

DS2 induction day is 7th July, but he will be there all next week for a Primary Instrumental week.

He has done 2 of these already so he is an old hand. They are amazing.

He will go on the school bus too.

We will get a letter any day now telling us what form he is in and who his form tutor, with an appointment time to go and meet the tutor.

Herc I think the early CAT tests are because of banding. Not sure about tests on induction day though, but DD2 loves exams . Says yr6 been boring since SATS over.
Hope your DD2 enjoys performance.