Mixed Age Classes

We are a 1.5 form entry school. This means we have up to 45 pupils in each year group and at least one mixed age class in each phase. The phases are:

Reception
Year 1/2
Year 3/4
Year 5/6

The number of pupils in each year group always varies, as it is influenced by things like the local birth rate in that year.

The number of mixed-age classes varies every year too. Usually, there is just one. We have had some years where all three classes in a phase have been mixed age (though this is rare).

Why do you need mixed age classes?

This is very common in schools like ours, with 1.5 form entry.

We keep class sizes at or below 30 wherever possible. When we have up to 45 children it is simply not possible to keep them together in one class.

It is also unrealistic for a school to have a teacher and a class with only 15 pupils to keep year groups separate. Therefore, we have some mixed age classes and some 'pure' classes, which contain pupils from only one year group. Again, this changes from year to year.

How do you decide which class my child goes into?

As in any 1.5 for entry school, there is no set criteria for placing individual pupils, rather there are several factors we include in class composition. These factors are not weighted equally every year as it depends on the individual children within the cohorts in that phase at that point in time. We generally consider:

The total number of pupils in each class.
The balance in classes of the number of pupils with additional needs.
The boy/girl ratio.
The balance in classes of the number of pupils with English as an additional language.
The range of academic ability.
The range of pastoral needs.
The social mix within classes.

The above list is not in order and is not exhaustive but gives a good general idea of the types of things we think about.

We try to put children with at least some friends but keeping friendship groups together is not a factor.

Is my child being pushed ahead or held back if they are in a mixed age class?

No.

It does not matter if they are in a mixed age class or a class containing pupils from only one year group.

All pupils receive the full curriculum entitlement for their year group, as set out in the national curriculum.

The curriculum plans we have in place ensure this is the case.

For example, in writing lessons pupils access objectives that are specific to their year group. Year 3 might write a fronted adverbial, Year 4 would do so with a comma.

In Maths, we use specific mixed-age planning for mixed-age classes.

In foundation subjects (like Art and History), we run a two year cycle to ensure that all pupils within a phase are taught all of the substantive knowledge (facts and information) and disciplinary knowledge (thinking like an artist, geographer etc.) that is set out in our medium-term plans.

Can parents decide if their child is in a mixed age class or ask for their child to be moved?

No.

Senior leaders in school are responsible for allocating pupils and teachers to classes, based on all the information we have about all of the pupils and deciding what will work best.

The above answer is also the same for pupils who have additional needs, including an EHCP.

My child is unhappy with the class they have been put into for the new school year.

Change is difficult for primary school aged children. We know from lots of experience that with support and encouragement, pupils are able to learn to adapt.

School will help with this but it will only be effective if parents and carers are giving consistent positive messages and encouragement too.

It is important that parents and carers support school in writing a positive script.

We do not change classes because of pupil or parent requests. We will also not change our classes because of 'suggestions' from external agencies who do not know the needs of the rest of the pupils in our school.