Oh what have I done! It's all my fault.

[OrmIrian]

Just taken DS#1 and his friend to the school for their CAT test. And when I saw the sea of little black sweat-shirted children from the main intake primary school and just 5 red sweat-shirts (from DS's school) I had to take a few deep breaths and few gulps . It brings back all my childhood terrors - being the odd one out. And I was the one that didn't want him to go to the same school as all his mates. DH was happy to go with either. I expected a row from DS but he was so pleased with the school (especially the robotics lab) that he gave in without a fight. Now I'm beginning to get cold feet. All 5 of them were huddled together like lambs amongst the wolves

I was one of only two girls that went from my primary school to my big secondary school.
It did me a lot of good, and I loved school.
He'll be fine.

He will be fine, children are so adaptable

We moved so much as children as my dad was Navy and we always fitted in and got on with it. My dh is Navy too and we shift schools quite often, it's no biggy.

DS1 was the only person to go from his old school to his current (senior) school. DS2 had one primary friend to go on with. The remainder of DS2's primary class all went on to one high school. I felt very mean indeed and, like you, questioned my judgment. However, roll on five years (DS1) and almost a year (DS2) and I am very pleased I stuck to my guns.

DS (now year 8) was the only one from his primary school to go to his secondary.

TBH, the first two terms were really tough for him, he found it hard to break through the cliques (everyone else went to 2 or 3 feeder schools & stuck together), however he did make friends and is now very happy and gets on well with everyone, with 3 or 4 close friends who he sees regularly out of school.

Oh thankyou thankyou. Just what I needed to hear. He's not a tough guy - he walks the walk but it's not real. He still gives me hugs and take teddies to bed .

I'll hear all about it first as I'm taking 4 of them back to their primary school at lunch time.

I didn't know anyone in my secondary and was fine. They all seemed to know eachother from the primary attached. I think being the unknown means you're the more interesting to make friends with.

Went to pick them up and apparently 'it was easy' In a voice of total scorn. Which I suspect was bravado as all of them had no idea what to expect and had been quite nervous.

'Did you make new friends' I asked in the car. 'Some girls came up to us and just talked!' said DS. He isn't keen on girls.

But (and please please excuse the snobbery here, I am not normally a snob) some of the mothers from the other primary school are rough! I thought our school had some good'uns but my god they have nothing on these. I went outside to wait just in case one of them took exception to me breathnig the wrong way.... .

Hooray!

Dig out your Boden swishy skirt or whatever the feck it is then

Actually I am taking DS for a 'family interview' there next week and as I'm coming straight from work I shall make sure I wear my really posh work clothes for a change and lots of lippy. My boss will worry - he'll think I'm going for another job

Excellent! Pearls too remember. Mke sure ds looks ok too

Pearls I can do. Make sure DS looks OK.... He has shoulder length blond looks which look lovely with his skater clothes but totally naff in uniform. Shall I offer to put it in plaits for him?

Oh yes plaits, lovely. Bless him

My DS yr 7 was one of only 4 from his primary school to go to his secondary. He has more problems from the boys he knew before than the new ones. He was a bit hurt by it all and didn't want to make knew friends but he is now and really thriving accademically. I think yr 7 is very difficult for many friendswise but they all get there eventually.

O

DS goes to a Grammar and was the only one from his primary. The school has a policy of splitting up ANY primary classmates so that they are all in the same boat.

He now has loads of new friends and has never looked back.

DD went to our catchment comp but as we had moved (to get into catchment) when she was in Yr 4/5 again only a few frinds went up with her. She stuck with one friend for most of year 7 but by Yr 8 again had a whole new set of friends.

Both are very happy.

our eldest ds really didnt want to go to the secondary we opted for, he went along with us and now in year 10 he was asked to write about who he most admired- my mum he wrote sometimes she makes decisions for us that we dont like - later we always discover they were the best decisions- thanks to my mum ive never had a hard lesson to learn ive learnt from her mistakes........do you reckon it can last much longer or will he soon notice my halo is tarnished and rather low?

OrnIrian...What is a CAT test..What do I have to worry about now???????[shcok]

Wow windy! Respect. I don't think I'd even get a halo to start with.

lynette - for some reason this school does them. They are meant to establish ability levels for classes in Sept. I guess it saves time to get the basics sorted now to save rejigging all the sets once the term starts. I don't think any other of the school here does them. Anyway they were a doddle apparently. 3 numeracy papers, 3 literacy and 3 verbal reasoning type things (as far as I could tell). Multiple choice. All done dusted by 11.30.