Is there a Y7 2024-25 support thread?

[Eastie77Returns]

I’ve been following the 2023-24 one as DD starts secondary school this year so was interested to read about the experiences of pupils who started last September. I’m ancient and things have changed so much since I was at Secondary school. I’m already struggling to keep up with the e-mails and flood of information from her new school and the new term hasn’t even started yet!

Next week she is attending a week long summer school / transition week which I thought was a really good idea to help her get settled ahead of September but she is complaining she doesn’t want to go and it’s unfair she has to spend part of her summer holiday in school (which is fair enough). She has already spent a day at the school and came home overwhelmed saying the buildings are too big, she felt lost and lunch was rushed. On the other hand she really enjoyed the taster lessons and as she likes structure she was excited about having a timetable of different classes.

I’m sensing the months ahead might be a bit tricky and DD is my oldest so the first to attend Secondary and I’m really not sure what to expect!

We have had a parents evening as have the other schools in the area so it seems odd that they don’t!

So so here. She has friends, she goes to activities, does well in lessons... has problems with organisation (leading to a detention for forgetting equipment too many times!). Shes not ecstatic but says its better than Primary.
Having the fun of hormones kicking in as well!

And we had parents evening a couple of weeks ago.
One more day until the "Easter" holidays. They go back to school before Easter!

DD is tired and we've still got 2 weeks to go! But at least Easter is in the middle of the holidays for us.

We get one parent's evening for year 7. Ours isn't until June! Tbf, that does mean the teachers have something to talk about as DD will have nearly completed the year.
I think they get 2 a year from Y9 onwards (I'd have to check the depths of the school website).

We had parents evening way back in November. TBH I would have preferred it later as they really didn't have much to talk about.

One more week til end of term here. They go back on the Wednesday after easter. Ds is doing OK, though a bit fed up he didn't get on the inter house football or basketball teams so had to watch house sports instead of participating.

I think he's settled OK, no friendship or learning issues, just the usual self confidence and esteem ones which have been cropping up since early primary school.

We had “target setting” at the beginning of the year where we created their target grades for every subject with their form tutor. Then we had online parents evening just after October half term with Maths, English, Science, History, Geography, RE and Spanish teachers. I think we have another one after Easter, not sure if it’s before or after half terms

Things are hotting up for the (fourth and) final exams of the year here which are in June. The kids have already been given revision materials, past papers, summaries of what’s on the exam including what % of marks are allocated to each topic and how many of each type of question (in most cases the entire years material) it’s all a bit intense!

I would struggle with some of this stuff - in RE they need to memorise multiple bits of scripture from the religions they’ve studied (Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism) for use in the “scripture questions” where they will be asked to quote scripture in their answers. This would be doable on its own but they have 10 exams in a week including maths calculator and non-calculator!! I’m not sure if we are meant to help them revise, it feels quite overwhelming for 11-12 year olds although the school does help them make revision timetables.

Wow that does sound intense! We have parents evening next week - the first one this year. They said they wanted them to settle in the year first and for them to get a good idea for feedback.
There has been quite a bit of testing this year from what I'm aware of to get them into the right classes/sets. Overall my daughter seems happy enough and we will see what parents evening days!

Does anyone also have an older child, and their Yr7 getting upset they "aren't as good"?

To put it in the context the upsets have been...
DD1 got 100% "outstanding"s on effort, attitude, equipment etc. DD2 got 96% "outstanding"s. (100% is achieved by about 10 pupils in a year!)
DD1 has recieved 2 awards for school values this year. DD2 hasn't recieved any (6 per house per year group per term... so 10% get them each term).

Meanwhile DD2 is on school parliament and has been chosen for two subject trips based on aptitude., and is meeting all her targets... but doesn't think she "good enough".

@TickingAlongNicely Other way round. Ds1 (y9) floats along in the middle, scrapes by getting homework in just on time, got one award for one subject at the termly celebration assembly. Ds2 got 6, plus one for highest ATL in his class and an invitation to the celebration pizza party for those with the highest scores.

Ds1 knows Ds2 is objectively cleverer than him, but he hasn't yet worked out that it's not about IQ points but about how much effort is put in compared to what he gets out at the other end. He could easily get a high Attitude to Learning score if he actually bothered to try it!

Ds2, however, doesn't believe he is ever good enough so constantly strives for perfection which of course almost never happens. He is sometimes an emotional bundle of nerves whereas Ds1 is so laid back he's almost horizontal. They are so opposite and mildly jealous of each other's strengths but if they both took a little from the other they would both be so much more balanced.

I feel I have rambled slightly.

How is everyone doing? Hope DC's are enjoying school. Hard to believe we are almost at the end of Y7 already. DD is looking forward to half term next week. Her report card came out this week. It was a mixed bag. Mainly 'On Track' but a handful were Below including two 'Well Below' in Science subjects. I had a hard time understanding what the school is tracking against. For each column there is a DfE/Course Target number between 6 and 8 so I guess they are tracking her against that expected grade for GCSE. The report stated parents are encouraged to contact form tutors and subject leads to discuss the report which I have done as but didn't hear back which wasn't a surprise. Despite the school touting an 'open door' policy it is very, very hard to get any kind of response to e-mails.

Parents evening next month so I'll get to meet her teachers for the first time!

That sounds like a gcse target - probably based on the fft5 model. It’s worth asking what level of progress this is based on (average, high or very high)

DD has quarterly exams in all subjects as well as “end of module” exams in maths and science so we’ve been getting grades throughout the year. The big exams are coming up for the end of year which include all the content from the whole of year 7…. wc 16 June so all the kids are spending half term revising 🫠

We have a head of year who I find easier to contact that individual teachers and she acts as a bit of a go-between. Due to clerical error dd had ended up with a target grade that was impossible for Spanish (as there is a cap for the max possible grade in y7), I emailed her form tutor and Spanish teacher who never responded but the HOY got it changed for her.

I can't believe we're nearly in the last term for year 7. It's gone so quick!
Overall my daughter has settled in really well.
she has had a fair amount of tests through the year but nothing too stressful - some science tests after half term which she has to revise for.
homework has been fine, usually no more than half an hour per subject.
parents evening earlier this year and a chance to find out progress which was good and useful to meet the teachers.

DD's EOY assessments in the core subjects were straight after Easter (they do them in the same hall where GCSEs are sat to get everyone used to it), with the rest throughout this term in lessons. Meant a stressful Easter, but the rest of the year is more chilled.
DD is getting on OK (mostly). I wish they didn't reward 100% attendance at her school though. The persistent offenders don't care, and the conscientious get really stressed about taking a day off sick because they have the vomiting bug going round school. Not sure that's the effect the school is aiming for. 🙄

DD has made a couple more friends. The idiots have calmed down a bit so everything is a bit smoother. Still has a tendency to compare herself to her "perfect" sister (she isn't perfect, just keeps winning awards for random things like "decency" and "kindness") but actually seemed pleased for her sister this time instead of upset that she never wins anything. Maybe because it was more tangible this time as it was most house points in the year group rather than the random titles.

Can't believe we are nearly at the end of year 7! Just about made it.... Hope everyone's children have enjoyed it.
I'm pleased with how my child has settled overall. We made the big jump and went with a school non of her primary friends were going to and it was a risk but she soon made friends and feel it was the best choice for her in the end. Lessons seen fine, manageable homework, few tests and happy with the extra-curricular activities. Don't get much info apart from it's fine, or boring but I'll take that! Lots of fun summer things now and then it's over!!

I feel like Year 7 has flown by, things have mainly been ok for DD. She had a few friendship wobbles which is to be expected (and I’m sure there will be plenty more to come) but I’m proud of how she’s taken everything in her stride.

Would anyone be interested in a Year 8 support thread being created for when they start back in September?

That's great! Was such a big change for them.
I'd be interested in a year 8 group if there was enough interest.

Its Yr7 camp next week, and DD actually seems to be looking forward to it, despite having to be at school for 3 days with real people. (The teachers are mad at her school... who would want to take 200 12yos camping?)

Shes got a part in the school musical next term, so happy there as well.

It does sem like yesterday they started.

This year has gone so fast! We've had a few bumps in the road (mainly friendship issues with the ex-primary clique🙄) but DD is in a good place now. She seems to be happy and a lot more settled, with some nice new friends. This year has definitely toughened her up a bit, but in a good way I think!

DS has settled in really well. It helped that existing primary school friends were there, though he has made lots of other friends too. Seems to be never ending assessments and I find it hard to actually speak to anyone at the school. They don't advertise email addresses and when you do find one and email, it's patchy as to whether I get a reply, which is frustrating.
Overall though he seems to enjoy it and apart from a couple of issues in term one, all has gone well.
I'd be interested in a year 8 support thread 🙂

Can’t believe how quickly this year has gone. Feels as if I started this thread yesterday! Would love a Y8 thread if anyone starts one.

DD has mostly enjoyed Y7 I think (get very little out of her when I ask!). She was selected for a couple of sports teams and has competed in lots of events, enjoyed a residential trip at Easter and was chosen to be a school Ambassador so she’ll be helping current Y6 pupils when they have their secondary school transition day next week. She will be responsible for ensuring they go to the correct classrooms. I overheard her laughing with a friend, saying it might be funny to send some of them to the wrong room so they get lost😮 I reminded her she was in their place a year ago and she rolled her eyes!

Parents Evening was exhausting. There was no appointment system and the queue to see some teachers was up to 20-30 mins long. After 2 hours I’d only managed speak to about 5 or so. Gave up and went home!

@ThatLostSock DD’s school make a lot of statements about working with parents, please contact us with any concerns etc but I also find it very difficult to speak to anyone.

I can currently hear Yr7 camp. We live 5 minutes from school,but camp is the other end of the school grounds...

I’ve created a Year 8 support thread, here’s the link for when we want to use it https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5366770-year-8-2025-26-support-thread?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share