How quickly did your child settle in year 7- new school

[Icloud54]

My son is attending a high school that none of his friends are attending, he's apprehensive (understandably)
How quickly did your child make new friends and settle?

Within a few days DS had made new friends. He's quite sociable though. Unfortunately Covid put a stopper in the works with forming decent friendships and that didn't then happen until the back end of year 9.

Within days.
Well, dc 2 started walking to school on the first day of Yr7 (only the Yr 7s and 6th form were in) and another child (we didn't know) caught them up withing 100 yards of our home and asked if they could walk with her. So, in her case, it was on the way to school on the first day
They are still friends 15 years on, despite having gone different ways after Yr 11.

The great thing about secondary, is everyone is there, new, ready to meet new people. Very often it is circumstantial - like with dc2, they just happened to have the same walk to do to get to school and get home every day.

My son started last September, it’s taken him until recently to be properly happy about going. He struggled at first and was picked on a few times but finally seems happier and settled now. His primary school was quite small and protective and I think he found it a big shock.

DD2 made friends with the week. Actually the school did a few days of Summer school before the year started and she came out with that with friends. But she likes talking to people.

DD1 really struggled. Took till about Year 8 and even then she never felt like she fit in right up until the end. However she does have ASD which went undiagnosed during Secondary.

Daughter is sport mad and very confident like her dad so settled quickly. Son is a bit quieter but he found his way in time.

Joining sports and clubs will help with this. It allows them to meet others with same interests. Many will be starting not knowing anyone. DD went to a school no one from her primary went to and she settled fast.

DD settled on the first day. There’s so much to cope with - remembering books, finding the rooms, having the right PE kit, dealing with new teachers as well as a class full of new children. DS took a few weeks to settle but, aged 50, still has the same group of friends he made all those years ago.