Y7- 2023/24 support thread

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Hi, just dropping in a thread for those of us who have kids starting secondary this coming September. There was a lovely thread going last year and they are carrying it on into Year 8, so here is a place for us the year behind.

How is everyone feeling as they finish Primary and prepare for Secondary?

Dd is moving from a single form entry "family feel" type cosy Primary into a large 8 form entry, multiple building secondary. She's going alone, her primary class are really split up across multiple secondaries.

The transition days helped, and she is excited,but has been really sad this weke saying her goodbyes

Is everyone prepped for uniform etc?

We are the same going from a small class of just 20 children to 240. Thankfully she'll know some class mates as we did eventually get offered our local school.

I'm excited but also feeling her nerves. Not ordered non branded uniform or shoes yet, really need to start getting organised! Oh and a bag. Are we likely to get an email from the school before start do you think?

I think I just feel for her because it's the end of something and I have no control over it. I would've happily kept her in her primary school until year 11 if that was a thing.
She came into me earlier and said she's sad that she won't be going back 😪 I just hope she gets on ok

@Secondary23 I'm assuming that because you said you eventually got a place that you have missed transition days? Unless your schools haven't broke up for Summer hols?

If they have broken up then you need to go on their website for up to date info for Yr7

We thankfully made the transition days 😊 she had a lovely time.

It is hard when they are going to a different school from all their friends.

Similarly, we chose our local school for DD so she can walk/ cycle to school. It's also one of the more sought after schools in the city which helped 🤪

The only other girl going she likes but isn't really a friend. She does know a few others there.

We are lucky that it was her preferred school- I think she does like the idea of walking/ cycling and I think it will be a lot better for her socially in the long run too. She will have lots of kids to walk home with and it will be easier for her to meet them out of school.

Coming to join, I am on the new yr 8 thread too for DC1 , so to be honest, I'm not mentally ready to have my next child moving up! DS is going from a teeny tiny primary (less than 60 in whole school) so very nervous about size. Not going to same school as DD is at as both got into single sex super selective grammars so no comfort there!

We have uniform already as SEN issues mean it needs to be hanging in the wardrobe early so it seems like a familiar friend come September. Cautiously optimistic about sen support, senco seems lovely, extra transition was arranged and the main transition day a success. He was exhausted after though so that will be the biggest hurdle in the 1st term I think!

I'll be here too. There's a summer school starting from tomorrow for 3 days so that's good.

Uniform: we have the non logo stuff but we have ordered the logo stuff as well. We were confused with the sizing so we just ordered 2 of everything with the intention of returning it. We would try in store but it's closed due to refurbishments. We haven't received it yet which makes me worry we'll get the text/call to come collect it when we're on holiday!

DD is going from state village primary with class of 17 to independent with classes of 22. So the size isn't the issue, it is more the culture difference + PE every day! She is the only one from her school going so has been pretty apprehensive.
Uniform ordered at great cost and today DD and I met up with 6 of her new classmates to watch the Barbie. It was a great icebreaker and she says she feels better about starting in September now.
Friday was pretty emotional but I know she is ready to move on.

I'd like to join this thread. My DC is going from a 2 form entry, very nurturing primary to a 6 form entry secondary with none of his friends! He's scared about the change but he loved the transition day and is excited about all the new subjects.

I was shocked at the cost of uniform, don't think I was ready for the list as long as you arm of stuff they HAVE to have logo's. They have a specially designed PE kit that even has to have their initial embroidered onto 😳

Yep even down to mouthguards! We knew it would be expensive but they could at least allow generic blouses. Everything is massive on her because we just can't afford to be replacing full uniform every 2 years

@Raindancer411 and @twistyizzy yes uniform is a shock! I thought it was bad enough last year for DD, DS's school have made a big thing that ONLY 4 items are compulsory branded items, however the price of the blazer on its own nearly made me pass out. Thank goodness for a very, very active PTA and 2nd hand shop. All his branded items except the tie we got 2nd hand.

May I join? I'm having a real wobble this evening about dd1 :( she's going from a small one class per year primary into a big secondary (I think there's 10 form groups) and only 1 child from her class is going to the same school and they aren't close friends (but did hang out at school and play football together).

She had an okay day on transition day but didn't speak to many people. She's not the best socially. She used to be and built good friendships in primary so has been fine til now but her social skills aren't brilliant and I'm very worried she's going to struggle to make friends. They're doing a summer school for new yr7s this week so first day was today (she's really not wanted to go but I think it's important she does and have explained why). She said the day was okay but she still didn't talk to many people. She hung out with the boy from her primary school and a friend of his at lunch so at least she wasn't alone. But the boy from her primary is quite confident and I think he'll quickly make friends and I doubt they'll stay particularly friendly for long into secondary.

I'm so worried about her (I am not making this obvious to her, I'm being very positive and suggesting ways to get to know people etc). I don't want her to be lonely every day with no friends. I know that's catastrophising but I just wanted to say the things I keep thinking.. I hate knowing she's feeling anxious. She asked me on Friday 'what if no one wants to be my friend' so I know she's finding it hard and it breaks my heart a little to see her so unsure of herself and her worth.

Oh I really feel for you and her. It is such a culture shock to them especially after being in a small primary school bubble. No real advice I'm afraid but hopefully as the week goes on she will find someone to talk to and become friends with.

My DD is on an activity week at her new school, she has made friends with a few girls but she said that the boys were all horrible and bullies. Her best friends at school are both boys and she is used to respectful and fairly gentle boys who are in a minority in her class is max of 6 in her year group, to come into contact with a gang of 15 of them has been scary. She said she didn't want to go today as they are so awful but I've told her she has to suck it up although I feel awful for her. I just want to protect her from any nastiness but I know that's completely unrealistic and she has to start learning how to deal with difficult situations now. 😕

Someone set up a new admission Facebook group and then someone set up a class WhatsApp group. There is talk of trying to get a group meeting up over summer so the children can meet a bit more. Not sure if that's an option?

@Raindancer411 that's what has happened with out school. The mums have been set up on WhatsApp and we are arranging smaller meet ups throughout summer. When the kids meet they then swop phone numbers and have got a small WhatsApp with each other now.
@BelleSauvage9 could that help? Even meeting 1 other girl over summer would help I'm sure.

Have to say a few of the boys in dd y6 have changed for the worse in the last year.
Luckily she hasnt gone into a class which has a large group of them together. (Cant believe primary must have recommended so many to be together.

Dd is also more friends with the boys. But there is starting to be a large maturity gap.

Also at leavers party most of boys on the field playing football 0 girls.
Sadly dd has had neither the transition day nor the extra summer ones. But i tend to think for her its going to be the long game anyway, gradually building up to chatting to kids with similar interests. And with 9 classes a summer transition she probably wouldnt have made friends with her classmates anyway.

I dont really like how this secondary have allocated the classes. As kids with no siblings seem to be together. Those with older siblings have gone into their House so have no friends with them. Though overall possibly better to be alone and start afresh if likely to stop being so close anyway.
There are lunchtime clubs obviously at secondary which is different to our primary where everything was after school. So hoping dd with try some (currently saying she wont do anyrhing during breaks...)
I think as its rural and buses etc almost no clubs are after school

I will join too.
It is so emotional to think that they have finished primary school but at the same time so excited for this new phase.
Just bought the uniform and will buy shoes closer to the date.

DD is going up! She’s excited but the school has been up and down for behaviour. But on the up I think!

Helps that her older brother is there and all his mates.

For the poster up thread who was worried about their petite son- my son is very small and this has not affected him adversely at big school. He’s ready with a come back or to just ignore and he laughs with them rather than letting it show that it bothers him. Which thankfully it doesn’t.

Just seen Tesco have 25% off uniform

May I join? DD is leaving a fairly small primary to go to a reasonable sized independent. She’s super happy to be going. I am a bit concerned though by the lack of engagement from the SENco. We’ve already had the first induction day and nothing from them at all (DD is hearing impaired). Obviously we supplied all details when we applied and they are fully aware, I just thought they might have been in contact by now (and before the first induction day so she got the most out of it). Not sure if I am being unreasonable -DH is saying wait a couple of weeks and then email them so at least all in place before start of term.

I have an autistic girl moving from a large primary right next door to a girls’ grammar a bus ride away. SENCO input so far has been brilliant, so I’m cautiously optimistic that she’s going to be far better supported than she ever was at primary (who refused to even put her on their SEN register because she was too academically able… please 🙄).

I think she’s ready for a new start and a new challenge but I’m painfully aware that secondary school transition can be the point at which the wheels fall off for autistic kids. She’s also painfully aware of her social awkwardness and her form mates (over WhatsApp at least) seem so loud and exuberant. I’ve tried to reassure her that it’s easy to appear extrovert online and they’ll be very different to interact with face to face!

Good progress made from Monday. Boys are being ignored, she has formed a good superficial bond with 2 girls and they have stuck together through the week. Lesson learned about resilience which will hopefully stand her in stead for first few weeks in September.

Anyone else's dc repeatedly trying on their new uniform? Dd is really looking forward towards wearing hers, which I was nervous about as her primary uniform was super casual.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz my daughter was like that last year, super excited by the uniform 🤣 DS...not so much!

@twistyizzy oh that sounds good, pleased things are feeling more positive.

@Jellycats4life very similar situation here, also off to a grammar, although DS in my case. Primary were very supportive though but I'm super nervous of the transition to secondary. ASD does add a whole new dimension to the process. Pleasantly impressed by SENCO so far. She seems to really care, transition days went well and we have a had a one plan already to be set for September but she said she'll probably do another a month in once he's settled and they know what's working etc. Fingers crossed 🤞!