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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Anyone else's oldest child starting secondary this September?

42 replies

DumbledoresGirl · 15/05/2007 18:49

My ds1 is and I am beginning to feel a bit upset about this. My feelings weren't helped by watching that Cutting Edge programme last night about a school that had a terrible swearing record. It wasn't the swearing that worried me (I am liberal with my language and don't particularly mind about swearing) but the aggression and defiance and downright ugliness of the teenagers really depressed me. The thought of my son going into that sort of environment, the thought of him becoming like that, the worry that he will be led into smoking or drugs, basically, the thought that I am losing my baby I suppose.

Anyone else feeling the same?

OP posts:
Original poster
DumbledoresGirl · 16/05/2007 10:55

I have to admit the leaving primary bit is not worrying me so much, simply because we moved 2 years ago so I don't think he feels great attachment to his primary. At the old primary, (also a church school with a leavers' service tradition) with all the parents I had known for years, I think I would have felt differently, certainly, but at this school, I hardly know any of the parents or children by sight even, let alone personally! We are lucky, too, in that we are in a small town and pretty much everyone goes to the same secondary (only one of ds1's friends is not) so I know he will have the security of well-known faces when he first starts secondary. I just have this ludicrous fear that secondary is going to change him into a monster, or that the monsters will make his life misery!

OP posts:
Berries · 16/05/2007 11:07

DD1 starts her new school in Sept also. There are about 5 going from her school. She's really excited about it, but I'm panicking (quietly). Sure she's going to forget everything, miss the bus, not bring homework home etc. Hopefully I'll be a lot better next year when dd2 goes.

dmo · 18/06/2007 22:45

my ds1 is starting in september
going to be so sad, just thinking about masses etc hope i can get to the last ones as i'm a childminder and its such a deal to go such things
maybe i might book his last day off so i can cry

katelyle · 18/06/2007 22:51

My dd starts in September too - I cry every time I think about it. So embarassing!!!!!!

Pimmpom · 19/06/2007 09:38

It is all happening so fast now. DS has his induction day on Friday then a yr 6 leaving party that evening. DS is one of the youngest, still 10, so I do have concerns.

DG, ds is the same about taking cuddlies to bed. They are so different with their friends though. He has just come back from 5 days away with his school trip and coped well with that - didn't seem to miss me!

He is my last one at primary school, so it is really the end of an era for me. DD is at secondary school, so I do know what it is like. She is in year 9 and hasn't had any problems so far. She was one of the oldest when she started so as DS is still only 10, I do think this is a big difference.

It doesn't seem to matter what stage they are at - there is always something to worry about!

dmo · 19/06/2007 09:44

my ds1 will be 11 on thurs but seems very grown up ds2 will be in yr6 in september his birthday is the end of august (he is my baby) and he still wears age 5-6 clothes (got him 6-7 but they were far to big)

theheadgirl · 19/06/2007 10:13

My oldest, DD1 will also be starting secondary in September. It seems like a big step, but she's looking forward to it, and is quite mature for her age. She has in the last month reached 5'4", and size 6 shoes, so she is officially bigger than me! But reading your post, dmo, reminds me of the boys in her class. I think in Y6 you can really see how girls start to mature earlier than boys. The class photo this year was so funny..... BIG girls, next to tiny boys!

dmo · 19/06/2007 10:19

awwwwwwww cute
wish they didnt have to grow up

stleger · 19/06/2007 10:25

My ds is 15 - he has a knitted Tiny in bed with him - off Tots TV, remember ? And when his friend comes to stay the night he brings his special magic pillow that helps him sleep. They are all butch on the outside, but when you see them sleeping, aw! (And don't tell anyone). My dd1 moved to secondary last year. I think the first term is hard, and physically tiring - it is so long, especially up to midterm.

fizzbuzz · 20/06/2007 20:58

Dumbledoresgirl, I teach in a secondary school. I didn't see the Cutting Edge programme, BUT nearly all the kids in my school are lovely.

They are polite, pleasant, co-operative, well informed, and very concerned about destruction of planet. There are some horrible ones, but very very few and far between. Even then they are generally just giddy rather than nasty. I think there are very few nasty ones.

Mostly there are entertaining, amusing, lively and interesting, AND I always cry when I loose my form at end of Y11, having had them for 5 years. They are almost like your own children, and I get very attatched to them. SO....they can't all be ugly and nasty can they??

Don't worry please, they all come out as normal adults in the end...

fizzbuzz · 20/06/2007 21:00

........spelling mistakes from a teacher ...

fizzbuzz · 20/06/2007 21:28

And I have a soft spot for Y9 "Kevins"
Find it very hard to keep a straight face when dealing with them as they are so giddy and amusing

dmo · 22/06/2007 09:44

went to a parents only meeting last night to meet the form tutors, head and talk rules and money.
my sons form tutor was off so we had the deputy head of yr to show us around and give us info, it was a real shame as he could not work the power point so it all got messed up but hey thats computers!!

sounds good yr 7 have their own playground they can go onto the bigger playgrounds if they want to aswel. we went througt the uniform and dinners

FunMumm · 29/06/2007 08:52

Hi DumbledoresGirl, have you been for a look round the school and had your parents information evening?
My DD starts her secondary school in September and she has just spent the last 2 days there with all the other children that are going up. She had a brilliant time.
When they go in September the new year 7s will be the only year group in.. then they finish at 1:30, then they are all in the next day, but the year 7s finish at 1:30 again... I think basicly what I'm trying to say is that they are eased in gently, they also have buddys for their tutor group to help them if they get lost.
I am so looking forward to her going there... I wish it was me!

Didn't see the cutting edge program... thank god!

FunMumm · 29/06/2007 09:02

forgot to mention... love your pics on your profile you have lovely children

BellaLasagne · 02/07/2007 18:38

My DS is starting too, although he'll be 12 the first week and I know he'll be just fine.

I'm also dreading the leaving assembly. They have a film made about them over the year which is beautifully edited and set to music, which they choose - I gather it's going to be 'Don't stop me now' by Queen. I'll need my hankie! They also sign each other's shirts and have a party in the evening.

DS went to his Induction Day at his secondary last week. It was just like him starting at Infants school, I was more worked up about it than him. He took it all in his stride and really enjoyed himself. I heard an audible twang as another apron string was broken!

marymay · 04/07/2007 09:47

my dd starts secondary school in september.
she has gone for her induction day today.
they were all sitting there like little lost
sheep.

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