So far my Yr 6 DS has had a visit to his secondary school, 2 open evenings with us, CAT tests for a morning, a family interview,

[OrmIrian]

he's going to spend a normal school day there on Wednesday, his new teacher has visited the primary school to talk to him and his class teachers.

Is this usual? It seems a bit OTT. I seem to have been spending my entire life at the place or ferrying him to and from it. On Wednesday the school insisted that he make his way there in way that he will in September - so he'll be walking with is friend. Bit nailbiting perhaps but needs to be done.

Normal practice in our borough, although different secondary schools, do it slightly differently. Dd's school had one afternoon visit only, whereas the school I work at had 2 full days (today and tomorrow) and they have already been in for the CATs. The Yr 7 Head, has also visited all the primary schools too. All 63 of them!

Ds1 had his first induction day today (another one tomorrow). The school is only 12 minutes' walk away (we timed it on Sunday ) so he went by himself this morning but I was a bit nail-bitey too as they are changing the road layout and all the pedestrian crossings have been removed on the only busy junction he has to negotiate. And we have a New Parents' Evening tomorrow night.

Yes, DD1 has had numerous visits this year for taster sessions, she had a full day on Friday, we have had two parent evenings plus a tutor visit today and there have been various visitations from sec school to primary school as well. CATs won't happen until they start though.

Is this for a state secondary?

It seems a lot. Mine aren't there yet but 20yrs ago when I moved up we as pupils had a couple of hours at the new secondary and were walked there by our primary teachers (was a 5min walk from primary school).

Whats a CAT ?

Ours is the local comp SMS. I think it is standard practice these days. CATs are aptitude tests.

my year 5 dd has had this except the open evening with you were days trips to the schools with school.

We've had a meeting tonight; two members of staff have visited the primary schools, and they have an induction day next week.

One child in DS2's class, going to a differnet school, is on visits this week and I think he's doing 2 1/2 or 3 days there.

Actually I know that our primary have 3 days of visits to the seconday because it is on teh calendar. I didn't think all pupils would go for 3 whole days...I assumed they were going to be divided into 3 groups.

And actually the head of year did come and visit us at primary and ask us who our friends were.

CATS provide different information to SATs. They are about aptitude not attainment.

CATS are less knowledge based, a bit like IQ tests and puzzles and verbal stuff so do not depend on how well taught the child has been. Supposed to be a better predictor of GCSE etc than SATS.

DD does not have taster days at the secondary school although yr 7 head and some other teachers have been to visit and many children know the school from older siblings and going to after school science talks, with CATS in september, her classmates going to the other local secondary have had visits and CATS this week.

DS1 (Yr6) has had visits by teachers from secondary school to primary.

Today they had to make their own way to secondary for an arts and crafts day - arriving for 9.15 and to finish at 2.30.

They are having their intake day next Monday on the 7th when they will again have to make their own way to and from - starting at 8.50am.

In September he will have to catch a school bus.

We went to an open evening last October.

DS and his Yr 6 teacher had a visit from someoone from pastoral care.
He had CAT tests , an evening where they met their form teacher and parents had a talk from the SMT.The next day they spent all day at the school
Also parents got a short more personal meeting one afternoon.
This year I have heard they have an optional French Immersion day as well.
This is a bog standard foundation comprehensive.

Quite normal and all part of the induction process to help the kids transition from Primary to Secondary.

I think the 'makingthe way to school as they will in Sept' is an excellent idea, and will steal it for the school I work in

CATS are for streaming. Ds1s school did this after admissions day as having kids of mixed ability was better socially according to perceived wisdom.
otherwise I thinknits good to get them in appt beforehand. Shows they are approachable sort of... One hopes..

The induction process works very well here. In years 5 or 6 the children have one whole-day visit with their class and teacher to each of the secondary schools.

In those 2 years they also visit the schools many times for different events - to see plays and dance/music productions, for themed days like maths day or D.T. day, and for primary school sporting events.

There are open days at the end of Year 5 and open evenings at the beginning of Year 6.

The head of year and deputy head of year also visit each primary school and talk to the children about settling in, and ask who the children would like to be in tutor group with - this isn't of course guaranteed, but they ensure every child is with at least one friend. Teachers can also discreetly suggest which combinations of children would not be a good idea.

Then, and this is where our secondary school wins hands down, there is 'turnaround week' during the last week of summer term, when the new Year 7s spend the whole week at the school, in their tutor groups and following the timetable for the next year.

CATs and other assessments don't take place until September of Year 7. Our school doesn't take much notice of SATs at all.

Thanks.

I guess it's not unusual then. I'm not really complaining as it will help him to acclimatise. Just surprised.

Every contact I have with the place, the teachers and the pupils confirms me in my beleif that it's the right place. Fingers crossed.

ds1 is at a whole day there today and has a whole day there on Thursday. He's also had an interview with us with a senior teacher.

They do CATs in September I think.

There are not many going to ds1's secondary (it's not a feeder school), but most of them are in his new form group: 3 other boys plus a girl, which is good.

But he actually seems to have spent most of the day with another boy he seems to have clicked with today. DS1 says this boy is "very clever"

He enjoyed the day today. We are just trying to juggle transport arrangements for Thursday, which are proving tricky.

My dd went for her induction day last week. She has also done a 5 week hockey course (one hour a week, in the evening) and is going to finish a 3 week netball course tomorrow night. She's very upset that she won't then be able to go back to the school till she starts in September! She has however, swapped mobile numbers with some of her new friends and will no doubt keep in touch with them over the summer. I think it is all a great way of getting them to make new friends before they start and hopefully make the transition go more smoothly in September.

He went off this morning with 2 friends. We were late getting ready...inevitably. He had a sort through his school bag and got rid of te lego figures, pokemon cards, transformer top trumps, and odds and sods of string and plastic that were there for no particular reason. I think he was putting aside childish things

Apparently he had a great time. I will admit to a little bit of motherly bottom-lip wobbling. But he was fine. Apparently he'd been put in Green group which was due to do German (amongst other things) but he unilaterally put himself in yellow group with the rest of his mates . Typical DS#1. Being arsey already....

He wants to go back tomorrow.

Glad he had a good day.

DS2 is one of eight going to his secondary (180 entry) and he's not with any of his friends. I know the reasons why (siblings etc) and it's just unfortunate the way it's worked but all the other seven are split between two forms. The school have taken this into consideration and have tried to pair him up with a lad with similar interests so fingers crossed they hit it off next week.

He'll be fine, but can't help feeling a tad sorry for him.

I know rebel. I was worried that he'd miss all his friends too but at least he knows some children already and apparently made some new friends.

They had a drama session on the subject of bullying and how to deal with it. Not sure if that's a good thing or not

That does sound rather hard on him rebel. I hope he really hits it off with the other lad.