Does this happen to the Y7s in your dc's school?!

[paddingtonbear1]

Today was dd's second day in Y7 at our local secondary. She left a bit late as she was helping a friend who had lost their school bag. She hadn't gone far out of the school gates when a group of older boys (in school uniform) approached her, saying her route home was closed. Dd didn't believe them and said so - they then circled around her, blocking her path and saying 'you should listen to us, little girl'. Two tried to take her phone which she had in her hand, but dd managed to snatch it back. At this point a group of older girls came to her rescue, and must have alerted a teacher as dd said one came out to speak to the boys.
Apparently this sort of thing happens every year to some of the Y7s, so the school must be aware of it. My school was a small girls High school and nothing like this went on! How do I best advise dd to deal with this sort of thing, in case it happens again? I'll try and arrange for her to walk with a friend tomorrow.

No, it doesn't, and I'd be really angry if it did. I would chase it up with the school to be reassured it won't happen again. (Although I know some schools are really crap at dealing with stuff like this. My kids' schools aren't though.)

There will always be some teasing/tricking of new Y7s but that sounds pretty nasty to me. I don't think it would happen at my DC's current school but at the one my DS went to first, larger with 1500 kids, I could imagine it happening. Like you say try and arrange someone for her to walk with but I would be speaking to the school too.

That would be taken extremely seriously at my ds' school.

The protocol at ours would be to email your dd's form tutor and let them know exactly what happened. They would then pass it on to the relevant members of staff.

I teach at a comprehensive and we would take a very grim view
Of behaviour like this. These boys would be on the warpath of the head of Transition (who takes
Care of newbies), the Head of Key Stage 3, the Pupil welfare team, not to mention the senior leadership team. In short, they'd be up to their necks in it. I'd push to meet
One of the afore mentioned people and ask how they intend handling this type of intimidation.

No, nothing like that.

A few of the Y10/Y11 boys sometimes try to persuade new Y7s that there are unwritten rules, for example that younger boys should have to let older boys in front of them in the lunch queue. However, the staff and the Y12/Y13 boys look out for new Y7s and keep a lid on any intimidation before it starts.

What the OP is describing sounds beyond the line of usual Y7 hazing/wind-up and into the realms of intimidation. I would email the form tutor.

No, this is a bit beyond a wind up.

In DD's school all year 7s have a buddy in year 8, who they meet after school every day in the first few weeks. Those who travel by bus get a buddy allocated who takes the same bus.
DD is in Year 11 and her bus buddy is still her best friend.

Speak to the Head of Year. Mobile snatching and intimidation is just not funny.

This wouldn't happen at DD's school but, if it did, it would be dealt with swiftly.

I hope your DD is OK, but I would email the form teacher and tell him/her what happened, and ask if there is anything the school can do to help prevent it happening again.

Welcome to the shitty world of state secondary education. Hmm some git tried to molest me on the way home every other week at that age.

Not remotely normal at my daughter's "shitty state secondary" ( thanks for that Reepits)

DD1 started year 7 last year. She hasn't reported any intimidation from older students. She did experience a short spell of bullying by another year 7, but as soon as her best friend marched her to the head of house to make a report, it was dealt with very swiftly and effectively.

In terms of helping your DD deal with it, I guess making sure she walks with a friend and keeping her phone out of sight are sensible practical strategies. And you need to contact her tutor (or whoever the contact person is), make sure they are aware and find out what they are doing about it.

There's also loads of good advice on the internet for children who are being bullied. Hopefully this is just a one-off, but DD1 found some of it useful in terms of tactics for ways to react if someone has a go.

Your daughter sounds a good'un, OP -- from what you've said, on Day 1, she helped out her friend, firmly disbelieved the nonsense the boys were spouting and fielded her phone from the little oiks. Good for her!

Thanks very much for your replies everyone. DD seems OK fortunately. It's a very large school - between 1500 and 1600 pupils - and is well thought of in the area. DD is one of the youngest in her year - and therefore the school - and isn't streetwise at all, although she is becoming more independent. I'll be going in tomorrow to see who I should speak to and/or email about this. Will report back!

Agree with Kitties your DD handled herself brilliantly.
Fingers crossed for a better second day.

Absolutely not and in DS school (boys only) the head would go ballistic if any of the older boys did something like that to the younger ones.

DS (year 8 now) only the other day commented on how they were encouraged to ensure year 7s were all settling in and sorting themselves out.

dd1 and 2 says in their school there is banter teasing but the above would have got them a detention.

This is absolutely not the norm in state secondaries, despite what some people say . DD2's secondary is very strong on pastoral care and the older ones help the younger ones. This kind of behaviour would have the perpetrators in huge trouble.