When did leaving primary school become such a big thing?

[usernother]

I left my primary school in the early 1970's. We had no leavers disco, no special assembly, no graduation ceremonies, no transition days to new high school, nothing. I can't remember my Mum mentioning anything about it. Other than getting my uniform and things that were needed for high school, that's all the input my parents had. Now I can see my SM awash with parents saying how emotional they are about their children leaving primary, one said she cried all the way to the leavers assembly and all the way through it. When did it change to being such a big thing?

My grandchildren had a mortar board cloak and diploma when they left🙄

Yes you are, because you’re quite happy to go along with the sneery posts - I don’t believe for a moment this is a wide-eyed innocent “just asking a question”, you want to give people an excuse to have a pop. I don’t know why grandparents don’t look to their own parenting if they think current parents are doing such a shit job.

@Tinybrother Yes you are, because you’re quite happy to go along with the sneery posts - I don’t believe for a moment this is a wide-eyed innocent “just asking a question”, you want to give people an excuse to have a pop. I don’t know why grandparents don’t look to their own parenting if they think current parents are doing such a shit job.

What do you mean 'quite happy to go along with the sneery posts'. Explain please. Especially the 'go along' part.

Like I said, it was the early 70's so a very long time ago and I had no experience of it with my own children in the 90's.

I wasn't bothered about leaving primary school but I'd only been there a few months. It was my fourth primary school and there was no bond really. We had a leavers party in the hall with traditional food and games. For secondary we had a disco and buffet at a local hotel. No prom dresses, limos etc. just non uniform. There was a mass (Catholic school) and shirt signing on the last day. I found the shirt a few months ago when I was tidying the loft. My DC had leavers assemblies from primary school. DS2 got a teddy with a commemorative t shirt. DS1 hated school and refused to go to any leavers stuff for secondary so I don't remember what they did. I have it all to come again soon(ish) with DS2.

Getting pregnant at 45 isn't unheard of?

@sorrynotathome Yes, I've just turned 60. I had (delightful) surprise DS in 2008. He left primary school at 11 ie 2019. He's just about to turn 15.

What's the problem? 🙂

Early 80s. We just left. I'd never been to my high until the day I started.
My primary years were dull. A far cry from primaries today.
No trips ever or residentials etc I don't remember my last day except walking out. We almost all moved to same RC high.
Primary learning is now fun. But
SATs mean that Yr6 now effectively finish once they are done. My DC had weeks of projects, trips, productions and all sorts. The leavers events were very special.
DC are going to maybe 8 different schools
Apples & pears

Teachers were on strike early 80’s so all residentials and trips were cancelled.

I left primary in 1989 and I think we had a wee visit to the big school but that was it.

I left primary in the early 80s, we were 4th year then rather than year 6. There was a 4th year trip away for 4-5 days in the summer term but I can't remember the last day at primary school at all, I don't think there was anything special. No leavers' disco, no special assembly, no transition days. In the school holidays my friend and I walked up to our new high school together with our mums so that we knew where to go and how long it would take to walk there from home, but that was all. We weren't even told our form groups in advance, we didn't find out until first day of high school.

I left primary school in 1987 and there was no fuss or celebration. A one form primary and everyone went to the same massive 10 form entry secondary. The transition was fine!

But we didn’t know any different. Children grow up faster. And parents are much more involved with schools these days. I do think it’s lovely to celebrate but it was a big build up, events all week, children in school 3 evenings and the leaver’s assembly Fri afternoon. Some of the kids were openly sobbing throughout the assembly and I felt like a calmer less dramatic week may have been wiser.

It's a new century and things are different from 70 years ago.

There’s no problem - I was just trying to do the maths because I’m the same age as you 😊 Clearly I should have tried harder!

I left primary in the mid 90s, and I don’t actually remember anything about the last term / few weeks of it!
I know we did a Year 6 play, and I vaguely remember my transition to secondary school day. Pretty much everyone from my primary moved to my secondary.
I think we were fairly soon after the transition switched from Y7/Y8 to Y6/Y7.

I left primary school in 1990 and my memories are a bit hazy. There was a residential. We all got a thesaurus that was signed by friends and teachers and spent a lot of time putting together a school magazine. There was also a show though I can't remember if it was the whole school or just year 6 who did it. There was probably a disco. I remember being excited but also quite nervous about the transition to secondary school - it's a big change.

I think some parents really go to town judging by some of the things I'd seen on social media, for example making bunting using photos taken at school over the years and special iced 'last day of school' biscuits.