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?

I was also going to say isn't the 4th Friday? My nephew has his birthday on the bank holiday Monday, and then DS2 starts on Friday - year 7 is in for 2 days before the rest come in - I think it's 2 days rather than 1 because they haven't been able to do the stuff they normally do for the new intake - DS1 had a week's summer school in July 2018 before starting, and they had a testing day.

Hi

I have a DS starting year 7 at a boy’s school on the 4th. Like others it’s more of an induction day. He has to travel approx 45 mins by tube so hoping to come with him or drive initially. The school is incredibly strict and no mobile phones of any sort allowed on the way, in or on way home from school. This aspect concerns me a lot given how unpredictable the tube can be. The reason for him being at this school is because it’s very close to my new job and we are planning to move as soon as we are able. In the meantime, the phone situation is stressing me somewhat. The school does bag/locker searches too. I wasn’t aware of the mobile phone policy before we applied; was our third choice school. DS is the only one going from his school but hoping there might be 1 or 2 others from our area going. It’s a good school and we are happy he got in but the rules are a bit eye watering. I’m considering declaring bankruptcy after buying the uniform. It’s not that the individual bits are that pricey (mostly JL), it’s just the volume of things e.g. pe kit and rugby kit etc. The start times have also changed and he will start at 8.15am. Will be a shock for me as I was used to getting out of bed at around 7.50 for primary school.

One of my twins starts in 12 days, he won't know anyone, but is eager to make friends with some boys he meet on a zoom call the school arranged,. unfortunately the other twin still hasn't been allocated a school and there is no plan for him as yet

@897654321abcvrufhfgg

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

My DS sounds like he has fair few things in common with your DS. He's tiny too, and no where near as independent as I'd like due to lockdown (our plans to improve this over the summer were thwarted due to local lockdown).

DS1 is starting on Wednesday 2nd - just for a short Y7 only induction session before a full pastoral day on the Thursday.

I think we have all the required kit sorted - he is my PFB so I am taking advice from some of the Mums with older DC about what is absolutely essential vs. what never gets used. I’m glad as it has meant we didn’t get some of the absurdly long list of kit for PE - everything else has cost a ridiculous amount when I add it all up.

We had 2 booklets with a fair amount of transition work for English and Maths - did anyone else have similar and did it get done?

I’m a Hoy 7. If that helps anyone

Ooooo, glad to have found this. My eldest starts in year 7 on 7th. He can't wait, I'm bricking it on his behalf. He doesn't know many people yet as we moved to the area last summer and then Covid. I think he'll be fine as he's a nice kid (biased) but can't help feeling anxious. It's not been the best lead up to it really has it?!

Could he perhaps get away with wearing a smart watch which you can call or text him on instead of having a mobile phone?

I've heard of some pretty strict school rules in my time, but that one is bordering on absurd! Are you sure it's not just that the phones should be switched off/out of sight/handed in whilst the kids are on school? I'm not sure a school has the authority to decide what goes on before and after a student is on site, as how would they enforce it?

My message was supposed to be in reply to the parent talking about her son travelling on the tube!

So glad I found this thread. My DD starts on the 3rd and the first two days are Y7 transition only, so I'm hoping it will quell the nerves she has about starting. She knows the school pretty well after a few visits ahead of us choosing where to send her and are a few of them going from her primary and she makes friends easily and is sociable, but she also gets very anxious about new experiences and I think next week could be a bit of a rollercoaster! I'm intrigued to read that many of your DC already know what form they'll be in and what there timetable is – we don't know either yet!

@NDSandG

Hi

I have a DS starting year 7 at a boy’s school on the 4th. Like others it’s more of an induction day. He has to travel approx 45 mins by tube so hoping to come with him or drive initially. The school is incredibly strict and no mobile phones of any sort allowed on the way, in or on way home from school. This aspect concerns me a lot given how unpredictable the tube can be. The reason for him being at this school is because it’s very close to my new job and we are planning to move as soon as we are able. In the meantime, the phone situation is stressing me somewhat. The school does bag/locker searches too. I wasn’t aware of the mobile phone policy before we applied; was our third choice school. DS is the only one going from his school but hoping there might be 1 or 2 others from our area going. It’s a good school and we are happy he got in but the rules are a bit eye watering. I’m considering declaring bankruptcy after buying the uniform. It’s not that the individual bits are that pricey (mostly JL), it’s just the volume of things e.g. pe kit and rugby kit etc. The start times have also changed and he will start at 8.15am. Will be a shock for me as I was used to getting out of bed at around 7.50 for primary school.

I find it incredible the school has pupils travelling to it by Tube but exercises a no-phone policy! That seems irresponsible. I do wonder if, as another poster has suggested, you can get away with an Apple Watch?

Hi. I’m not sure if an Apple Watch would be allowed. Doesn’t it need to be near a phone to work? Also it would be instantly recognisable as one. I was thinking of a GPS device either in a watch format or something like that. I have spoken to the school and they didn’t back down. I presume it’s to do with children being mugged for phones and/or cyber bullying so I recognise the reason but to not even allow a dumb phone seems a bit extreme.

This is what the phone policy states:

The possession of the following items by pupils at, or travelling to/from school is banned: ...... mobile phones....

@NDSandG, as the school won't make an exception, definitely fit some sort of tracking device on a watch ect. If you can help it don't it on his bag-he might leave it at school, on the tube ect. I was going to suggest a smart watch as PP have said, but the school sounds very strict, so go for the tracker.
Can anyone recommend some long lasting pens? DD's primary school didn't allow pencil cases in KS1 and in KS2 they were only allowed to have pencils and rubbers in them, no pens whatsoever! I have no experience in this field

My ds is starting Year 7 in a special school about 40 mins in a car. It was only confirmed on the last day of term so he's not really had any transition work.

alliejay81
897654321abcvrufhfgg

My DS is exactly the same, tiny for his age a little socially awkward and not into the same thing as most 11 year olds. Hes never left the house alone before, going to a school a 20 minute walk away. Im so nervous for him. Hes not even interested in having a phone.

@Hogwarts80

alliejay81 897654321abcvrufhfgg

My DS is exactly the same, tiny for his age a little socially awkward and not into the same thing as most 11 year olds. Hes never left the house alone before, going to a school a 20 minute walk away. Im so nervous for him. Hes not even interested in having a phone.

It's a bloody nightmare! I bought the smallest of everything but it's still on the large side. Plus the 8-9 trousers I bought from M&S are too big .

My DS isn't socially awkward but he's an old head on young shoulders. I think that might be a struggle at High School.

DS is starting at an all boys grammar school on the 3rd Sept. He can’t wait, his bag is already packed and hanging on his wardrobe door. The last few weeks of the holidays seem to be going sooo slowly!

@LadyCatStark, my DD is v excited as well! She's ticking off the days until she starts. 11 days now apparently!

@KangarooLady, DD picked some fountain pens on amazon but I bought a box of Bic too - I quite like them myself which is why I bought them, I asked DD but she didn’t have a preference so I just went with one I know...

Another member of the small children club. DD is using some of her primary school uniform but it was a mix of grey and black, so I bought one pair of slim fit trousers - which I now need to return as they’re enormous on her. Not sure if I should go for skinny as skinny is not really allowed but surely it’s only if they look skinny? Has anyone found slim fit that are proper slim?

@NDSandG that is very strict - a GPS tracker sounds like a good idea.

We don’t have forms or timetables yet, we’ve been told the children would only find out when school starts.

@KangarooLady DS has uniball signo tsi pens which are erasable!

My Ds was small but apparently has long arms and has grown, so I've just ordered the next two sizes up of shirts from M&S, and more trousers. Still need track suit bottoms and pens and calculator, a brick phone, and to get ds going on a bus on his own. His school's phone policy is they mustn't be seen on the premises unless in KS4 when they may be used in certain lessons. So for KS3 they recommend bricks to avoid risk of theft etc.

It could all go brilliantly, he could be in floods of tears every night (have had both in last 4 years). But having to leave the house by 7.40 is going to be murder for all of us!

Oooh DD has to be at the bus stop for 7.30, she wasn’t even awake at 7.30 for primary school (bus pick up time was an hour later...)

On pens I bought DS1 a variety of types of pens - he settled on the ones which are my favourite as well - Pilot V5s I think. If your DC settles on a favourite stock up a little, but also a good idea to put a couple of BICs in the pencil case as back up or so DC can lend tp a friend in need but not give away the pricy pens.

Ok, thank you all!

My DD is starting at a huge school from a one form entry primary. About half her class are going but she’s the only one in her form group. Doesn’t seem to mind.
She’s definitely socially awkward and doesn’t like meeting new people. She is looking forward to the lessons and seems to be in denial about the social side.
She’ll have to be independent in leaving the house and coming home but it’s only a five minute walk from school. She hasn’t asked for a phone but we’ll get one so she can text me when she’s home. I’m hoping to change my hours a bit for a while so I can get home early (won’t be before her though) and WFH for a few hours in the evening.
Not sure the idea of homework has hit her yet. Also not yet sorted for stationery (although she’s got enough to start a shop really).
No transition stuff really due to Covid, but I think she’ll take it in her stride.
Also no sex Ed was done at primary school so, although I thought I’d talked to her openly over the years, it turns out I need to do some...