Oh! Oh! My firstborn starts secondary school in September. Surely that warrants a support thread?

[Cadelaide]

Am I a bit too early for this?

I mean it's months away yet, isn't it?

Hello! My eldest starts secondary school in September too

He seems totally unfazed by the idea. He's the eldest in his primary school and almost seems to have 'outgrown' it so I think he's ready!

That doesn't mean that I'm ready though! I'm already stressing about several things:

uniform Finding the balance between following the uniform list without looking like a geek (What shoes do secondary boys wear???)
Going on the bus Big thing for me. We live in a village and have a drive of about 6 miles to school at the mo so I have always taken him. The thought of him going on the bus makes me wibble (How do you know they've got there )
Money There is a card to top up for lunches and I'm thinking of £10 per week but does he need a bit of money in his pocket too?

As well as DS1 at secondary, I'll have DS2 at primary, DS3 at pre-school and DC4 due in November so I'll be busy!! (Never thought I'd be on a 'Starting Secondary thread' and an 'Antenatal thread' at the same time )

Hi gingertoo, we'll be similarly busy then. I'll have DC2 at junior school and DC3 starting reception with all the fiddly hours that entails.

Not pregnant though!

bruffin, funny rugby story!

Cadelaide - co-ordinating the drop offs / pick ups is going to stretch my organisational skills to the limit!

I suppose DS1 getting himself to school on the bus will help really - I suppose I'll get used to the idea eventually. I keep asking him 'Are you sure that you don't want me to take you to school for the first term?' All I get is a 'No Mum - I'll be fine' in reply...

Ought to let him get on with it really

Can I join in? My pfb starts in September too - first I worried that she wouldn't get in as it's a very academic grammar school. Now I'm worried that she won't keep up and will have way too much homework I guess there'll always be something to worry about. Not to mention that her friend who is also going says that it cost her parents £500 to get the uniform for her older sister. £500 !!! that's bonkers.

grimma, my DD is similarly short (and worried it makes her look younger)- takes after her nanny and grandma, bizarrely as I am tall. Though maybe she'll have a growth spurt?

I hope I can to get her a blazer that fits, not one she is going to grow into as I do't want her to look like Tiny Tim!

My DDs school uniform doesn't include a blazer, which is a pity. I don't know how she'll ever manage to keep track of bus pass, lunch money/card (don't know what system they use), mobile phone, memory stick etc without pockets.

She doesn't have - or want - a mobile phone yet but she's going to have to have one as there is quite a long bus ride and the stop is not near enough for her to walk so we'll need to be able to coordinate picking her up in the afternoon. (the school does allow them to have phones so long as they are always turned off within the school, which is sensible. Lots of the girls are coming in from the surrounding area on buses)

I don't know if DD's school allow mobiles, but she will have one - I'm getting one very soon as she's starting to come home on her own now. I think most of her friends have either got one or will have one by the summer holidays.

Can I join too, please? My PFB DS1 is off to secondary in September. Will have to go by school bus (it's 15 miles!), and it's a big school, about 1500 pupils: that's 10 times the size of his primary!

I'm dreading it, though trying to be casual and cheery. He's not really looking forward to it. He's tall at least, but is a bit doubtful about the whole thing. He wants to stay at Primary! There are a couple of taster days next term though, so I hope it fires some enthusiasm.

Quink, DD was not looking forward to it until she got her offer of a place. Now she is really excited.

It takes DD a bit of time to get her head round big changes, but then she's usually fine.
I'm sure he will get fired up by the taster days, and he will meet the other new children and teachers so he will have some idea of what it will be like.

the other day, DD was alternating between "I'm so excited at going to .... but I'm sorry I'm leaving ... but I'm so excited I'll be going to "

which I guess is how it should be!

It does help that she's got a good friend going too - will be on the same bus (~25 miles!).

25 miles! That's quite a way. How long will it take her?

We decided against one school which is probably less than 3 miles away as it would take ate least 45mins on the bus and she would have to leave at 7.15 to be sure of getting there in time. (DD struggles to get out of bed by 7.30 now, though I still remember the days when she was up and ready for fun at 6!)

45 minutes there, 35 mins back. Its mostly a decent rural A road. She'll need to be out the door 7:30, which is daunting, but she's absolutely determined this is the school she wants to go, and realises she (and me and DH!) will have to shift our days a bit.

Hmm I worry about the bus journey too, luckily some of dd's friends are going to the same school so she won't be alone. Am tempted to take her myself, but not sure how that might affect her street cred. I just dread my little girl turning into a teen.

We were told by the head of dd's secondary school NOT to take them to school, especially on the first day. There is a fairly small catchment area, so most girls walk or come on the bus.
They would die of shame if mum popped up on the first day. However, when it's cold and wet and they've been doing a club, it's amazing how that changes!!!
Sugartits- a friends uberselective grammar uniform cost £500

I'm sure DD would be outraged if she didn't arrive on the first day on the bus.

Which is pretty weird since at this point she's never been as far as the village shop by herself. She will have to start doing that soon, and as there's a public bus which runs in parallel with the school bus we can do a dry run or two beforehand.

DDs school is a selective grammar, but they have deliberately kept the uniform fairly simple to keep down the cost.

My ds has been making trips into the local town on the bus with his sister, and has already arranged where he and his friends will meet to get the bus in the morning.
He also smells and has attitude, so I think he is ready for year 7!

DS1 won't even let me walk down to the bus stop with him on the first day.
Although, I have a plan!
There is lovely local girl who will be going into the 6th form of DS1's new school in Sept so I'm going to mention to her that it's DS1's first day and get her to give him a prod if he looks like he's not getting on the bus!
DS1 need not know

Thanks BigTillyMint! I had hoped he'd be a bit keener than he is, but at least he's calm about it, if a bit thoughtful! He's counting down the time left: one term and a bit to go. All his friends are going to the same school and some of them have siblings there already so it shouldn't be so scary, I just don't think he feels ready.

He is however a bit smelly, and a bit stroppy and sulky and answers back, so maybe he's readier than I think! (I pre-empted Lynx by making sure he had Botanics for Christmas - let's hope it lasts.)

Good idea about trial runs / getting used to using public transport...

DD has asked me if I will go with her on the first day

I said of course I would, but have my fingers crossed that she will have changed her mind by then!

She can get a school bus with friends from her primary school, so I'm sure she'll be fine when the time comes!

Hi everyone, my dd is starting Y7 in September too....

I used to go on MN quite a bit but haven't been on much for the past couple of years. Funnily enough, I'm guessing I will probably be on the Y7 threads regularly from now on .

Dd will be leaving her idyllic, small, girls indie for a mixed school (ex private, choir school where she'll be a music scholar). Most of her friends are going to her current school's senior school, and as far as I know none of them are going to the same school as her. She does know 2 or 3 children from her drama group going there though. It is both exciting and nerve wracking for all of us I think at this point!

We had a big uniform list and heaps of forms by return from accepting the place.
Luckily like Grimma our uniform is moderately priced, despite it being a boys' grammar.
He is really looking forward to it.
You do realise that our PFBs are vintage MN babies from its earliest vintage? They should host a party for them at Google HQ

Eek, we have not yet had a uniform list. Just the one form accepting the place...

Ds has been excited at the prospect of going to secondary school all along, but now the forms have been filled in, and it is officially happening iyswim he is wibbling a bit...

Our evening dog-walk has become a way of familiarising ds with the different ways of getting to secondary school. Luckily two boys next door (currently Y7 and Y9) and the girl across the road (also currently Y7) will be able to 'lead the way' as it were.

Most of my friends are planning to drop their dc's off on the first day. But my nephew (now Y10 at same school ds will attend) does indeed confirm that will guarantee a painful instant social death. "Unless it is done by the back gates and mum does not get out of the car".
I am assuming however I will be at working that day, so ds will just have to make his own way [wibble again]

At the same time as ds leaving the junior school dd will be leaving her infant school. It feels a bit 'end of an era' - ish and I feel old!!!