12.5kg school backpack no lockers

[PalmLady]

My son's Y7 back pack with only the absolute necessary items weighs 12.5kg. There are no lockers for them to use. This seems excessive to me? My son only weighs 35kg himself.

What about this: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0991R32T6?tag=track-ect-uk-2165307-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&ascsubtag=ecSEPn3g8m20tsxvh&dplnkId=6684cd49-70ed-4db2-8e79-53631432551e&nodl=1

33 11 / 12 year olds went home,
many on public transport, with approaching a litre of hot soup?

I remember ds2 in Y7 was 30kg with a 10kg bag. He didn’t have a locker either. It’s rubbish the way schools treat children sometimes.

Yes 😳

bloody hell

My DC is prob a couple kilos. Couple of exercise books. Planner. Stationary. Drinks bottle. PE kit some days.

This is normal - we did this in the 1990#

yes

but now health and safety is a touch different

and having 33 11 and 12 year olds ferry around best part of a litre of hot soup around the school and then on public transport home…. wouldn’t fit with H&S!

A 200ml water bottle is 200g of water and the weight of the bottle. Is it a plastic one? Each set copy book/journal if he's got lessons on different topics shouldn't weigh more than a few hundred grams each. Is he definitely packing just those he needs for that lesson? PE kit yes that adds up but you can buy decathlon trainers which are super light and cheap.
I'd get each item out and weigh it and see what's adding up!

For us I think it is the laptop which makes it excessive. After all this discussion I put my child's bag on yesterday when it was all packed - flip! I wouldn't carry that. It is awful!
The laptop, as I said, requires a sturdy bag. It is also in it's laptop bag which came with it (which is light but necessary to protect it). We minimise everything else. There has to be a "reading book" so we only use those World Book Day type books which are super slim and light. There has to be coloured pens or pencils, rather than a pack, we just have about 6 mini pencils etc. There is quite a bit of required stationery (highlighters, ruler, plus geometry equipment and scientific calculator). There is no lunchbox - just a foil wrapped sandwich (my child has never got on with school dinners) plus a breaktime snack like rice cakes. The water bottle (plastic) has about 5cm water in it from home (to fill at school). It is those blooming A4 exercise books that add up (sometimes 6 - there can be two per subject as previously mentioned)! My child does have a locker, but it is a big school and the locker is probably always going to be inconvenient to get to between lessons and when on breaktime.
I don't mind the laptop, but as I have said to the school, my view is that if they have to bring the laptop daily, the books should all stay at school (i.e. it should either be the laptop OR the books not both!). The school just don't want to acknowledge the issue with bags. Then of course some days there is a PE kit and occasionally cookery ingredients.
To those who mention a folder. I get the logic of carrying that, holding it to your chest, but I think the younger students probably prefer things in one bag. I would also say that is awkward when it is raining.
The head told me how light the recommended device is (the one we have) - it is light, if that was all you were carrying! I would encourage you to complain to school about the bag weight. I think too many parents don't say anything and that is why we are where we are. I think it is wrong.

Re teachers carrying heavy stuff - yes no doubt they do, but I doubt they are walking from home with it!!!

It's hardly an open tray of hydrochloric acid they're trying to balance on their knees... It's just soup in a thermos. 100,000s people must do this every day on public transport.

Depends, are they carrying it in a bone china tureen? (Antique)

I presume the majority will have it in a tupperware, and it will be cold in no time. Biggest danger would be leaking over their school books if any are daft enough to stick it in their bag.