Welcome Swedishmum - of course all welcome here.
Magentadreamer, ds1 quite likes those sort of research-type homeworks. He can type quite fast too, so it doesn't take him long to write it up. I dislike homeworks dragging on though, so if he gets a longer lead-time one, I encourage him to crack on with it, and set him targets of (say) 3 x 45 mins (or whatever) sessions over a week, to get it finished and out of the way. So far he's complied with those suggestions.
UnfortunatelyMe - my ds1 has changed a lot since starting secondary. He is generally more mature, more pleasant and polite, much better at taking responsibility for his own things and sorting himself out. I think for him having the freedom to choose his lunch, and organise his cash himself, and catching the regular service bus has all helped him.
Swedishmum - I only have boys, so can't compare. But my ds1 always tells us loads about what goes on at school, and always has done. We get chapter and verse about every little detail at times! Certainly far more than we really need. He's got a fantastic memory, and often quotes verbatim things the teachers have said to them: it's very funny at times, and I'm sure the teachers would feel very self-conscious in lessons if they knew how much he does this