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?

Hi all, can I join? My ds is going into yr7 too...currently struggling with what trainers for PE. Does it matter what sort? He has a brand new pair of under armour but he wants nike!

@mrsdaz, what colour are his under armour trainers? Some schools specify either black or white. If he really won't wear the under armours, then maybe look at JD and sports direct for back to school sales?

www.sportsdirect.com/kids/footwear/trainers#dcp=1&dppp=120&OrderBy=rank&Filter=AFLOR%5EBoys%2CUnisex%20Kids%7CABRA%5ENike

m.jdsports.co.uk/kids/junior-footwear-(sizes-3-5.5)/classic-trainers/gender/boys/brand/nike/colour/black,white/?facet-campaign=back-to-school

m.jdsports.co.uk/kids/junior-footwear-(sizes-3-5.5)/running-shoes/gender/boys/brand/nike/colour/black,white/?facet-campaign=back-to-school

Thanks OP.
Ds2 very excited. Starts Thursday, at Same school Ds1 was at until he finished his GCSE's recently.

DD refused new trainers for PE , hers are a pair of black Skechers. Her list also includes football boots but, according to last year’s subjects book, girls play hockey and netball. Hockey is not popular at all in my home country, do they use football boots for it, or just normal trainers? Not that it matters because DD plays football out of school so needs boots anyway but I’m curious.

Can I join too? Have DS starting Y7 on the 2nd. Got his choice of school and it's very good but no one else from primary is going, it's not a straight forward bus journey and there doesn't seem to be a school bus. It would prob be about 50 minutes walk. Think I will end up driving him to start with and we'll see if things change when Covid issues subside. He's excited but I am trying to not show my worries that he will be on his own a lot to start with. I do hope he makes some friends. He's great but doesn't do a lot of the football, Fortnite type things as @897654321abcvrufhfgg said earlier.

@tywysoges Hockey players wear football boots - they're running on the same muddy fields.

Ds has trainer-like shoes from Shoe Zone as he won't wear any others (ASD), and thankfully the school said any black shoes and trainers are fine. They set for PE only in the first term so he'll be in the self-chosen 'would prefer to be anywhere else' group focusing on getting them any exercise at all. If he ends up walking to and from school to save money (free bus travel is being revoked in Oct unless Boris changes his mind) then four miles a day with steep hills will be good for him!

@ShakeaHettyFeather I thought they might, thank you - I did google but got conflicting information. DD is actually really deflated about PE, as she’s quite sporty but doesn’t like any of the girls’ options. She said she’d rather play rugby - she weighs less than 30 kg so that would be interesting .

Fingers crossed for the free travel to continue, it’s so unfair to remove that when people are struggling.

What are schools going to do, production wise, seeing as our children didn't sit SAT's?

@Oblomov20

What are schools going to do, production wise, seeing as our children didn't sit SAT's?

I think most (state) secondary schools usually do their own CATs testing early on in Year 7. They don't rely on Year 6 SATs scores AFAIK!

They are black..school doesn’t stipulate a colour. He said he’ll wear them now so phew! Thanks for the links..I could spend a fortune on bargain trainers haha. @KangarooLady

We will be doing CATs for our new y7s, but no testing at first as we want to focus on settling and pastoral. I think we are aiming for around October.

I'm already liaising with the school nurse to get the sex Ed sessions that were missed in y6 done in our school.

Can I join please? DS is starting year 7 on 7th Sept and is very excited. I think we have pretty much all we need and have done two trial bus runs this week. A couple more next week and then hope to goodness it all works OK due to the bus companies running at reduced capacity and "no standing" due to Covid. Not sure they'll all get on!

He's going with 7 others from his primary and is in a tutor group with one other, who he doesn't get on with especially well, but is very keen to make new friends. He got his first choice having taken and passed the 11plus but decided against grammar. I hope it's the right decision -time will tell I guess...

What sort of face coverings are you getting your DC? I don't know whether to get plain or patterned! We have some that we wear to the shops, etc. but DD is going to need more as school has stipulated 1 for the bus and a different one for around school.

Hockey isn't played on grass any more, astro turf! Trainers are fine.

I've got lots of cheapo plain face masks from Wilko

DD’s school isn’t requiring face coverings (yet), but she will need one for the bus. We bought a set patterned ones a while ago and she will be wearing those. I asked if she wanted to pick something else but she said no.

Thanks for the hockey clarification - girls play volleyball in my country!

We had an email today that they will be encouraging masks in communal areas where others are not in their bubble - eg, corridors. I have some bandana-type ones that you wear around your neck and pull up when you need to cover your face.

They also confirmed they will be getting co-curricular activities up and running as soon as possible but are waiting for guidance on music ensembles - which is of my DS's main things, so hoping they start up soon.
DS is bouncing off the walls with excitement!

I wondered that about the SATs/targets. DS's school had two entrance tests, and the primary school did mocks in February, so they have a fair bit of data, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do their own testing. I feel they probably should anyway really.

Oh can I join in please! My youngest is about to start yr 7

Is anyone else having trouble with trousers this year? DD’s on the small side but we only ever sized down and were ok but this year nothing looks right - M&S and John Lewis slim legs ones looked massive around the hips, Next does a slim waist + skinny legs with looks great but they are obviously skinny and I’m not sure they are allowed. Argh! I think a trip to Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s is needed.

I need to start concentrating on my year 7 rather than on his older brother going into year 11!
Staggered start here so both starting on different days and different times.... A shame..

We've finally been notified of what class our DC is going in and the WhatsApp chat immediately blew up and I'm so relieved to learn she won't be with anyone else from her primary because I really want her to spread her wings and make new friends. She's excited too, thank god!

@tywysoges

Is anyone else having trouble with trousers this year? DD’s on the small side but we only ever sized down and were ok but this year nothing looks right - M&S and John Lewis slim legs ones looked massive around the hips, Next does a slim waist + skinny legs with looks great but they are obviously skinny and I’m not sure they are allowed. Argh! I think a trip to Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s is needed.

Isn't it the law that their first secondary uniform has to be super-sized so they'll spend the next three years growing into it???

Joking aside, we got the M&S slim fit ones that are roomy on the hips but not to tight in the legs. I just figure she'll fill them out at some point. They do have an adjustable waist that helps though.

Isn't it the law that their first secondary uniform has to be super-sized so they'll spend the next three years growing into it???

I bought DD’s uniform just one size up from primary 🙈 she doesn’t have any expensive items though (no blazers 🥳)

Italics fail 🤦🏽‍♀️

Today I'm taking DD1 and DD3 shoe shopping, DD3 is starting at the primary DD1 just left and DD2 & DS currently attend! Luckily the rest of primary's uniform is cheap

Hi all. Can I join? DD starts yr7 on 8th Sept. Her older brother is at the same school and going into yr10 so she’s familiar with the school. All of her year group from yr6 bar about 5 children are going up into the same seniors so she’s hoping she’ll know a few in her form - they won’t get their forms and tutor details until the first day! Fortunately 8th and 9th are both induction days so I’m hoping it’ll be ok. Still my baby though! Can’t believe I won’t have any primary aged children any more!