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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Secondary School Induction day

37 replies

TheRealPerson · 28/06/2010 11:03

What happens on these induction days? DS has one next week - am a bit nervous! Although I don't think he is lol

How do they get there? there are only 4 kids going to this school from his primary and he only gets on with one of them (who is going with his sister who is already at the school). The primary school is not taking them.

Do I take him? is he supposed to go on his own? the secondary school is massive ... I just can't imagine him wandering in those big doors alone.

OP posts:

crazymum53 · 27/06/2011 09:02

My dd had her induction day last Friday. They did expect parents to take children and collect (unless they already had siblings at the school) but the start and end times did not clash with local primary schools.
As well as meeting year 7 tutors and a tour of the school they also did the following: met students currently in year 7 (in particular those who had transferred from their primary school), chance to see the new school uniform etc., they were taken to the local bus stops to explain about travel to the school. My dd enjoyed her day and reeled off a list of names of new friends and also another list of children she already knew at the school!

HappyHome · 28/06/2011 16:57

This has been really helpful as we have all this to look forward to next week!
Can I just ask if you took your DC's to the parents evenings?

BarkisIsWilling · 28/06/2011 18:43

Our invitation specifically asked that we did not bring them.

bossboggle · 28/06/2011 19:05

Most senior schools have induction days now. My three went to their school, each child followed on (first child went knowing no one in a school of 1200) all made loads of friends and settled in and really enjoyed their induction days - don't panic people they will be okay in the long run!! Nervous for the parents though - bet you all watch the clock on their first day!! Good luck to all of the new intake of year 7 pupils where ever you go to!!

bossboggle · 28/06/2011 19:08

And once all three of mine had been to their induction days - they declared that they did not want to go back to their primary school and decided that they wanted to go straight to their new schools.

cory · 28/06/2011 22:32

Dd had a really good time on her induction day 3 years ago: the one thing that's stuck in my memory is that they had a chemistry lesson and got to extract the DNA of a kiwi fruit.

maypole1 · 29/06/2011 08:34

Omg my son has his on Friday I am really nervous he's excited.

He had been bullied at his primary school am worried he could be an easy target.

I even feel a little sick now I am sure he will be fine our parents induction ia on the 4th was supposed to be tomrrow but the strikes are on gurrrrr would of liked to meet the head before hand Dd is not sure to have packed lunch or not I did suggest he have dinners to see if he liked it

busymummy3 · 29/06/2011 09:15

If he is confident enough I would let him try to go on his own as it a chance to try out the route . my dd went with only 2 others to her secondary Y6 day. It is a chance for them to see the school as it is during the day. Our secondary also ran a summer school for new Y7 in 1st week of school holidays. This was really helpful to start making new friends. hope everything goes ok .

maypole1 · 01/07/2011 22:59

Dd went for induction today and he had a really good time advice to every one else don't be late

SueC · 05/07/2011 17:34

My DS went for his induction day today but came home in tears. He's very shy and didn't know anyone in his class. Didn't make any friends. Don't know how to make him feel better and stop him worrying for the next 8 weeks. Really don't want it to spoil his summer.

janeyjampot · 06/07/2011 10:59

SueC, that happened to both of my DDs. They didn't know anyone either and although we had talked about and I tried to manage their expectations, I know that both secretly hoped to come home with a ready-made best friend for September!

The reality was that the ones who were at Primary together stuck to each other like glue and were reluctant to welcome others into their cliques. Not surprising - they would be back with their friends at their old schools the next day. We had an awful August, but in September everything was absolutely fine because everything seemed to change over the summer. One thing that really helped was teachers who had seating plans, which forced children to mix more broadly. Also, in September I think they new Yr7s were approaching school with a completely different mindset and were open to making new friends in a way that they weren't on the induction day.

One of the things I did over the summer which I think was useful was to talk a lot about the nature of friendships - what makes a good friend? what makes people popular? why do you like to be with x? why do some people find it hard to make friends? The hardest thing was that we also talked about how important it was not to come across as too needy and desperate to make friends. As I said, in September everything was absolutely fine and I vividly remember the contrast between DD1's induction day, which she left in tears and sat in a shuddering heap in the car, totally inconsolable, and her first real day, when she came running out saying she had a planner and friends and had joined the netball club and she'd had pizza for lunch...

Sorry for the garbled message but I just wanted to reassure you that we'd had exactly the same experience and everything was fine (and is fine) in the end.

HappyHome · 06/07/2011 16:01

Well I have just collected DS from his induction day and...........he loved it!
He is the only pupil going from his primary but has one friend going from another school and luckily they have been placed in the same form. He now wishes that he was going back tomorrow

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