Tips for starting independent secondary school from state primary

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

DD will be starting secondary school in Sept 2015, she currently is in a state primary. Due to unexpected financial help she is going to independent school rather than the local comprehensive as planned. Can any one help us with extra things we may need to prepare for / think about with the twist of going private?

yellow. Really helpful thank you. Will do IT induction and think on language. She's hopeless at sport (school very sporty) but they do horse riding and take part in events, so am going to get her some lessons as she seems interested in this!

DD did this and was in the bottom French set right up to year 11 as a result. She still got an A and went on to take A level. If it's an academic school, it's important to realise that the expectations are different. "Bottom maths set" may well mean "might not get an A" rather than "won't get a C".

Apart from that - they're just kids, they're not another species.

Lunchbox? School lunch was compulsory for DD.