Year 7 - 2025 to 2026 - first time at BIG school

[Jellyjellyonaplate]

Hi,

Anyone else got a year 6 soon to be year 7? I enjoyed reading some of the support thread for the current year 7s and thought it might be nice to make one for the coming year.

My DD is starting at a girls grammar where she knows no-one. It gets good results and I'm sure will be a much faster pace than her village primary that she is used to!

Hopefully she hangs in there and will make some friends. We've bought some uniform (ouch so expensive) and worked out the buses (we will have to give her a lift to the bus stop). Now researching a computer tablet which they need to have. It needs to be compatible with Teams, apparently android is which seems surprising.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Jelly

DD2 starts tomorrow, she is excited and a little nervous

Our school tests lots too - CAT4s and Maths tests soon as we set maths right away and the end of topics in everything else
By the year 7 test week in May they are so used to tests!!!!!

I don't remember lots of tests when I was in secondary? I seem to remember there were year 9 sats in maths and English (I think sats were new for my year?) then gcse mocks, then gcses, that was it! Mind you my school was pretty rubbish!

Not heard of the CATS. Do all schools do them?

First day went OK for us! Couldn't really find out much about they did but apparently they all spent lots of time looking through their pencil cases. 😂

😂

My child said it was a really good first day
I have to say I wasn't expecting it to go as well so it seems to have

I don't know I feel though
A part of me feels really sad

She might go on this bus by herself tomorrow
And I know she'll be fine, it's an easy bus route but I'm finding it a bit hard all this

Yes schools test a lot more now. Small testing in lessons, do one question at the end etc and more tests or exam style questions (obviously adapted for Y7) for homework as they go on during the year. Then there's loads on end of topic tests for all subjects; maths, English, history etc. Then a end of year one normally or at least in Maths, English and science but often in all the other subjects too, which normally includes something from everything they've done across the year.

Just found this thread - hi, everyone!
DS (my summer-born, ‘precious first’ ) began yesterday, and it went better than I expected. He’s gone to a new school where he doesn’t know anyone, but came
home saying he made a friend so was quite positive about the day.

On the topic of tests, my school was a ‘through’ (primary up to sixth form) so while I think we didn’t need to sit any for streaming near the start of Y7, we did always do big end of year tests(almost/at exam settings) that gave us grades for our final reports. Plus the usual, shorter tests after topics, to check our learning.

Dd started yesterday. She’s my only child so this is all new to us, but I’m happy we’re onto the next stage as she was so ready for it. She is autistic but you wouldn’t know unless you knew her really well. Very academic and masks highly. I honestly had no idea how it would go but she was happy when she got home. I am holding onto that as I am sure it will go downhill soon enough! She hates all the ice breaker type stuff and is dying to just get stuck into normal lessons, but I’ve been reassuring her once she’s got all the ‘firsts’ out of the way for each subject it should be normal teaching.

They have PE today for the first time so I am worried about that as she is hypermobile and struggles with physical stuff, plus her horror of having to get changed with everyone else too 😄

I think I’ll be glad in a few weeks time when we’re fully in the routine and hopefully she’s settled ok.

My DD has PE tomorrow and she enjoys running around but they've been in PE kit all day since she was in Reception (they had the policy even before COVID) so we'll have to see how that goes as she's mega disorganised (we're waiting for ADHD assessment).

Yes dd the same here, they just went to school in their PE kit! She is really self conscious so I hope the changing situation hasn’t been too awful for her today. I will report back when she’s home.

Do her school know about her autism and are they putting in accommodations? Just as girls with SEN (diagnosed or undiagnosed), start to struggle so much more, so even if she masks right now, it could cause issues if she doesn't get her support now (might be less that she needs but then she doesn't struggle loads). Things like figet toys perhaps?

For the hypermobility, again do the school do this? They can make accommodations for P.E? They should let you know a when they're changing to another sport, and perhaps then you can suggest what would help? It may be for some sports she doesn't need much but does for others.

Yes she was on the SEN register at her primary so all the info was passed on to secondary. She had an extra transition day and has a toilet pass and pass to leave class 5 minutes early to help with transitions. She has some Loop ear plugs to wear but she was a bit upset yesterday as she said it was really noisy at times. She doesn’t have an EHCP currently but I am fully expecting the wheels to fall off at some point, as I know of quite a few autistic girls who have really struggled with secondary. She could be entirely fine and thrive, but I think it’s very unlikely, so I’m expecting an EHCP battle at some point in the future…

She doesn’t actually have an official diagnosis for hypermobility yet but it’s very obvious to us - it was the clinician who did her autism assessment who recommended we pursue it but in my area NHS won’t diagnose unless an immediate family member is diagnosed with it (which is absolutely insane in my opinion!!) so saving to see someone privately in the near future 🤞🏻

What hypermobility issue is it? I'd still let the school know and explain the issue with getting a diagnosis, ask for some reasonable adjustments as its highly suspected and normally they're willing to do this.

I'm glad they have things I'm place, loop ear plugs can be great. Is it too loud in her lessons or like at lunch etc? Is there a sensory room or wellbeing room she could go to? Maybe the library? Does she have good friends? I think you're already on it, and that's all you can do. She may be fine, but many girls get diagnosed during secondary because that's when it wheels come off and they can no longer mask as they go up the years. Also burnout etc, can cause issues but you're already supporting her well and that's all you can do, is be vigilant and support her.

Lucky we don't have that rule here @TheLivelyViper as my DS has hypermobility and he's adopted (as is DD) so we'd never have been able to prove a relative had it! All they provide is insoles and he's grown out of needing them so why they are so stingy in your area is beyond me!

Currently tracking DS as he makes his way home with his classmates. Thank God for technology…

I must admit that I think that's unacceptable. What if that person is the first relative to get diagnosed? I don't get that but the NHS has been making lots of new ways (some due to government failure) to get out of things with all the issues happening to it. It's not me though, it's @discov unfortunately for her DD. I'm not even sure if that's across the whole country or not? I'm not sure what illness or specific diagnosis it is, as there are some different ones involving hypermobility.

Thanks @TheLivelyViper& @drspouse - the rule is absolutely nuts because how does anyone ever get diagnosed and be ‘the relative’ if they also don’t have a relative diagnosed to start off with? We are part of a local autistic girls group and many are coming up with against the same issue. Someone has recommended a good rheumatologist who does private work not far from us, so I’m aiming to get her seen by them. I don’t think she has EDS but maybe more generalised Hypermobility Syndrome - she gets a lot of joint pain and struggles with fatigue and trouble with her vestibular balance. She also has bladder issues which can be linked to it too. I hadn’t thought of informing the school without a diagnosis as I didn’t think they would take it on board, but I will definitely speak to them.

She does have some good friends there who understand her well, and she’s already been hanging out in the library because she loves reading 😄 I spoke to the transition manager before summer about some of her worries and she said DD is always welcome to come and speak to the SENCO/other staff who work in that area but I think someone needs to point out to her where it is and exactly who she can speak to. I might drop her an email as she spoke to dd on her transition day so she’s a familiar face.

She came home really happy again today and excited about the work they will be doing in all the classes so that’s positive. Apparently PE was just practicing getting changed with a 5 minute timer which didn’t go down so well with her, but she doesn’t seem to be dwelling on it which is good!

@Wheninromme Is he settling in ok?

Glad she's had a good day @discov. Yes I'd speak to either HOY or SENCO or P.E teacher and just say if they could slightly adapt a few tasks for her. That way she still gets involved but hopefully it doesn't hurt or isn't too difficult for her. Even without diagnosis, often schools will try and make adaptions to teaching, or activities so see what they can do.

It's really good that even though the changing wasn't perfect, she's still reflecting on the day as good on the whole. Definitely email the transition manager, as yes many times, kids with SEN, need to be told they can do it before they do. That would mean if she finds her getting dysregulated or during a time out wants to have some sensory help etc she can just go sit there. Rather than perhaps not go get anyone or get support if she needs to. I love that she loves reading, believe me it will help her a lot across life and school and will be of great benefit. I think with the way the school seem to be responsive and you in her corner she could really thrive across the whole of school, and I really hope she does.

@TheLivelyViper Thank you so much, you are very knowledgeable and have been so kind in your responses to me.

Yes you are right that it’s good she’s reflecting on the day as good as a whole, as she very much can dwell on one thing being tough as ruining an otherwise great day. I am really proud of her.

I’m going to write an email in the morning re all the points we’ve discussed. She’s planned to go to the library after school tomorrow now she’s got her lanyard and can officially check books out, which she’s very excited about!

DD had a great first day - it was mainly team building and games today so real lessons tomorrow xx

Hi all, glad it seems to be going well for everyone so far! @discov my DD sounds similar to yours - autistic, and loves reading and books. I was worried about making friends, but so far she seems to have got one girl that she's made friends with who's in her class so I'm really pleased for her.

Today they had to bring in a cardboard box for a team building exercise and we left it at home! So we had to make an emergency stop at Aldi.

And yesterday I found my husband has 'helpfully' ironed on her name badges to her socks - on the top of her toes! They look ridiculous! I mean, is it just me or is this the height of uncoolness? You take you shoes off to go in changing rooms and i just don't want people to tease her... He reckoned she'd sweat off the labels less there..... Oh man. Anyone know how to remove iron on labels??! Or get husbands to have common sense??

I’ve noticed one of the biggest changes when they move up to senior school is how much of the communication is aimed at the kids rather than us as parents. In primary we got every letter, email and reminder, whereas now it’s things handed to them in form time, messages on portals, or told in assembly. The idea is to make them more independent, but in practice it can mean a lot of letters sitting at the bottom of a bag or you only find out about things when your child remembers to mention them 😅.

I’ve found it helps to check the school app/portal regularly, ask them to show me any letters/texts, and not to be shy about emailing tutors/admin if I’m not sure. Schools do expect parents to still need info, but they put the responsibility on the kids first. It’s definitely a bit of a learning curve in Year 7!

Yes

But with clubs. (After school/in dinner)
I know nothing about these cos it's given to the children. But my child i think would love certain clubs and really enjoy them once started but needs a bit of encouragement from me first. I can't really do that when I don't know anything about anything.
And to top it off, she's rubbish at taking information in sometimes and relaying what that information is to me!

So I think she'll miss out cos she might not know the information for it

I was thinking about that this morning. We get notifications on the school app for important messages but usually dd says she already knows.

And with clubs, I had no idea any existed (although now I’ve realised they are listed on the website) but dd has signed up for some and stayed behind a couple of times for different things. We are a short walk from school so it’s not a problem at all and she just sends me a text saying she’s stopping for art club or whatever.

It is a nice feeling! I hated all the primary school correspondence. It felt like there was a new ‘thing’ I had to sort out every day!

I found clubs listed on our school website, but it might be worth getting in touch with school and asking for a list.