Year 7- Best Purchase?

[crisscrosscranky]

I've just spent an obscene amount of money on a good quality backpack. What was your best Year 7 purchase and why?

Best spent: antique full size violin + good quality bow.

In Year 7 DS was told that he should upgrade to a full sized violin. He had been player since 6 but was a bit lazy in terms of practices. We were about to get a new Stentor (higher end) but I came across a violin dealer selling refurbished antique violins online. I purchased it (was a little bit pricier than high end Stentor), it had new strings etc. and the sound was mellow and beautiful. DS was clearly more motivated!

Other good spends:
Plastic wallet folders for individual subjects
Sturdy backpack
Lab coat
School trips and ice breaking events…

My DS is going into yr 13 in September and will be using the backpack we got for yr 9. Definitely worth paying for a good one. Before that he needed a new one each year!

Definitely a stiff wallet for handouts and glue sticks!

Ha! My DS1 has destroyed every backpack we've bought, regardless of the price. He averages two a year - no idea why, but everything he touches falls to pieces.

DS2's bag from last year is immaculate.

Shelf box files labelled by subject(2 disparate subjects to a box) for DS to put in school books , handouts text books when not needed in school bag. He doesn't have a locker to use at school. Keeps them organised and we haven't had many evenings frantically looking for stuff. That and 4 protractors ( they seem to get lost and break all the time!)

Metal geometry set after the first few plastic protractors snapped in a few weeks.

Backpack that's actually big enough to take books and packed lunch and doesn't require extra bag for PE kit or cooking ingredients.
Key chain to chain his bus pass to his inside blazer pocket!

@TheBrockmans - metal geometry set. Genius. I don't know how many plastic ones we've been through over the years.

A big pot in the kitchen kept stocked with pens and pencils to make sure they are available whenever needed.

Magazine holders x 5 (labelled Monday-Friday) so when DD packs her bag each evening any books etc not needed are put in the holder for appropriate day she next has that subject. This means if the book isn't in her bag or in the holder then the teacher must have it, it also speeds up bag packing!

What are these 'good quality backpacks' that have lasted years? DS1 going into Y7 in Sept and I need to buy him one, plus a sports bag, so any recommendations would be very welcome!

Seconding magazine folders/racks colour coded for each day of the week for books/homework. Helped to keep DS organised

Would love to hear about backpacks as well - it needs to be sturdy, big enough, not cost a fortune, and have a nice design, as DD does care about that...

We went uniform and school supplies shopping yesterday, I'm in a state of shock! We had to go early, as we're holidaying the last 2 weeks of August, coming back literally the day before school starts.

And we still have to get shoes, dictionary, thesaurus, pencil case, and the backpack...

*state of shock regarding the cost, that is... :)

Teacher here 👋🏻
If your school doesn’t already provide them, I’d highly recommend plastic covers for all exercise books. Keeps the books from ripping and keeps them neater for longer.

Good, sturdy pencil case and a good quality water bottle would also be on my list of things to buy.

Decent backpack was definitely up there! DS1 has just finished Y7. We had one cheapie that simply didn't cut the mustard, then got a decent one in the Mountain Warehouse sale. Spare maths kit (protractor etc) also useful (but less expensive!)

Plastic wallets for hw sheets and hw completed. As a teacher I can tell you this small thing helps hugely with hw organisation!

Some great ideas- thank you! She will have a locker at school so I might suggest she have a couple of box files in there too.

Re: backpack- we've bought a fjallraven kanken- they are a bit 'trendy' at the moment but will be good for her back/shoulders.

Quality shoes as there's often a lot of walking at secondary. Decent backpack. We had Vans. Duplicate geometry set to keep at home. Would hold fire before purchasing the official pe kit until they get their timetable. We bought rugby shirt at the start of the summer hols which was outgrown by the time he actually did rugby in the spring term. A costly mistake.

We had 2 pencil cases so one could be kept in his school bag and the other used at home, so no risk of forgetting it

I asked my DD who just finished Y7...and she said Tipp-ex and having lots of pens

Like previous posters, magazine organizers and pencil cases have been great. Having an emergency pack with a few bits (like pads, mini wipes, an envelope with emergency cash and information, things like that) that can just be left in the locker was also a weight off of her mind at times.

The one that has lasted 5 years and still going was a Nike one costing about £25

Magazine file for every subject (text books, exercise books and all the loose bits of paper that seem to get shoved into bags can go in here)
I have a shoe box that I keep topped up with pencils, pens, rubbers, glue sticks etc to replenish pencil cases (stuff gets lost a lot!)
Good backpack with sections
Good water bottle (getting a Chillys this year)

Eastpak backpack and DM school shoes...pricey initially but they still look amazing at end of year despite Year 7 DS playing football and touch rugby at break and lunch all year

Down jacket - some schools insist on no jackets to classrooms you can stuff a down jacket into side pockets of bags to avoid going to lockers.
Plus I really like the clear plastic covering I bought to cover books with - it was pricey but its the one you can use to cover tables/furniture so extra strong.

Superdry backpack. Still looks basically new.
Magazine racks labelled M-F
Pack of 24 pritt sticks so there is always another one!