Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

[KangarooLady]

Hi all! DD1 is starting secondary this year! She's very nervous about the travel (train and bus) but definitely looking forward to it . Any other new year 7s?

Ds starts on 3rd September, only the year 7s in that day to help them get orientated. He won’t know a single other child there but he’s very excited anyway.

It’s totally the other side of town through horrible traffic so we are hoping he’s got a place on the school bus (he’s top of the waiting list). The school have said a couple of kids might drop out if the bus - fingers crossed!

Can I join in? DD also starting Y7, on the 3rd. She doesn’t seem either excited or anxious, which I find a bit unsettling, but (1) I think 29 of her class are going to the same school and (2) I don’t think she realises how big it is (even though we did visit last October). Uniform was, thankfully, about the same £ as primary school as same supplier and no blazers or anything expensive. She’s going on the school bus and the pass arrived last week.

I’m a bit anxious about it all, things like missing the bus (no public transport option so I’d have to fetch her), her being a bit naive/uncool - she’s a very young 11... but I’m sure I’m overthinking it all.

@tywysoges, my DD is also a very young 11 too! I am a bit concerned about the age gap but she's a tough girl and has always been ok socially and academically, I'm sure your dd will do well . Unfortunately the school has no after school and lunchtime clubs, DD loves doing netball but I don't think they will be covering it, she's definitely not happy about that! Hopefully it won't be too long before the clubs are running again

Yes we are also hoping the clubs get going soon as I think it helps a lot with making friends. Ds has picked out a few clubs he was intending to join.

Mine is a footballer and was most pleased to find out the school had a girls team. However it’s a no for clubs for us too at least until October half term, we were told. Fingers crossed everything goes ok and they can start them.

(At least the out of school club is restarting soon so she won’t be completely missing out)

@KangarooLady I do hope she is ok - some of her friends seem to have already grown up so much during summer... she’s not shy or anything, but she has quite young tastes (she’s quite small too so hopefully can get away with it without being teased too much).

Joyce my dd is definitely a big fish in a (very) small pond, and is ready to go to secondary.

We've not had confirmation of after school clubs yet, my dd is very sporty so is really looking forward to this element of secondary, so I hope they get going soon.

Our school has the majority of pupils bussed in each day (massive, extremely rural catchment) so there won't be staggered start times but they will have to wear masks on the bus.

Fingers crossed for all the DDs and DSs that school clubs make a return quickly! 🤞
@tywysoges, my DD started puberty quite early on and so she has had a lot of growth spurts. A friend of mine has a small DD going into year 8 and says she didn't get teased about her height at all.

We were told before the summer they were intending to run clubs, but I am not sure if it will actually happen or not, he would love to do all the sports activities

My DD starts on the 2nd.

Ordered the eye watering expensive uniform - which hasn't arrived yet!! have purchased shoes and shirts elsewhere. Should probably look at the letter with stuff on to see what else she needs.

I think I'm in a bit of denial about it all, given the circumstances - she hasn't been in education since March! and all of a sudden they are going back full time! I'm not anxious for her, I'm anxious for me - that it won't happen and I'll have to endure more home education

My son starts on the 3rd too. He won’t turn 11 until the 31st Aug, I can’t believe he’s going to ‘big school!’
We’ve order uniform but need to sort shoes and bag. Can anyone recommend a robust backpack that is deemed cool enough for secondary school?

@Monkey1111, I would try hype, Superdry and vans for bags, I have seen boys coming out of DD's school and the local secondary with these brands. Hope this helps!

Thank you @KangarooLady. I don’t want to get it wrong.

DS will be getting 1 or 2 buses or walking 45 min (35 home - there's a steep hill). Did the journey yesterday to buy uniform.
I got him the official school backpack to save a shopping trip.

3 other kids he knows but not well are going there. Form tutor seems friendly. It's a shame the school cafe and library won't be open so I took Ds to the Lidl opposite so he knows where the pastries are (I predict someone in the class will start a snack business if each class is bubbling).

Still need a dumbphone, stationery, and to get him to try on white shirts.

Buses are only taking 30 not 70 passengers which is why he may need to give up and walk.

He's also autistic so the lack of being able to hang out in quiet areas at school may be a problem, but thankfully he has an excellent sense of direction and is used to buses and accepts wearing surgical masks. They aren't running after school clubs to start but I'm told the SN homework club should still happen. That, or it doesn't get done...

You're welcome @Monkey1111!
@ShakeaHettyFeather-I would try Nokia and Motorola, their phones are ok and cheap

DD was offered her school off the waiting list a few weeks into the summer holiday. She was settled on the school she’d been allocated, as were we, and is peeved at the change. Gosh I hope it works out. She starts on 3 but I’ve no idea if it’s just year 7 back or the whole school.
No uniform and she can be there in 10 minutes, it’s in her ‘hood!

DS2 is going to the secondary school 5 minutes walk from here, which I'm glad of. I did want to take him to look at others but he;'s joining his brother who will be starting year 9 and he's very familiar with the school.

I’m slightly jealous of the children going to school so close to home, but I suppose it’s part and parcel of living semi-rurally.

No uniform sounds great too. One less thing to worry about.

Cani join. We have a very young for his age year 7 boy starting on the 3rd. He is very very awkward socially but desperately wants to fit in. Doesn’t like any of the usual things eg fortnite, football etc and has never walked anywhere on his own before. We started to prepare him for walking home after Easter but then lock down happened. He won’t go further than 10m away from us since lockdown. Am desperately worried

Must add he is also tiny for his age which doesn’t help

My eldest starts secondary on Thursday the 4th.
She is nervous and wishes she was back in Reception 🤣
We are nearly sorted but skirts have been a nightmare to buy 😤
Although a lot of her friends are going to the same school there is only 2 in her form group.
She is very happy about this though and has admitted to looking forward to making new friends.
Me...i am a bag of emotions (not showing her though) flipping from being exited and proud for her to nervous because as adults we know what other kids can be like in a not so positive way.🤨

@897654321abcvrufhfgg-Maybe you could try walking the route to school with him in the holidays so he feels more confident, then he might be less worried about going on his own?
@MichonnesBBF-School skirts were hard to find for my DD too! She's very tall for her age and the school has its own skirt but the shop where they sell the uniform has very limited stock. Luckily we found a size that fitted her

@MichonnesBBF The 4th is the Friday not Thurs - best check which day it is!

Good news is Ds likes his trousers. Less good is he likes them so much he keeps wearing them out in the woods and gets them filthy... at least they're cheap and I can get more.

Just went to ask DD if she wanted to help in the kitchen (she likes cooking) and she was already packing her pe kit and school bag! She's raring to go