Mumsnet Talk

Hello everyone.
I have recently learned that two of the schools that we have applied for are taking on a bulge class for reception for this September. I am pleased that this might increase our chances of getting into one of them.

Are there any disadvantages that we should be aware of? One of the schools is quite small so I'm not sure how they would accommodate another 30 children.

I've read various threads on MN about this but wanted to know from anyone who has experienced this, what their thoughts are. I know this is something that is happening in alot of places.

I will ask the schools about it but wanted to understand more so i know what to ask, if that makes sense.

Thanks in advance.

A bulge class is a one off. The expansion of a school otherwise involves a formal consultation process and a reasonable timescale. Because a bulge is in place only this year it could mean little pressure on the school in question.

Ask the schools about it. Ask them how they will cope with the extra thirty. Ask them if they know of any proposals for a permanent expansion.

No reason to suppose it will not work out ok.

It can have a disadvantage in future years IF you have younger children, IF your child gets a place and IF there is a sibling policy.

eg 90 children with eligible siblings but only 60 places in future years so very occasionally it means not all siblings can get a place in future years due to a bulge class further up the school (I only know because it has happened at a friend's school in recent years)

Apart from that communal areas or communal activities like assemblies and lunchtimes might have to be reworked unless the hall is big enough for everyone to fit in. That’s not normally a problem though. Schools can divide it into upper and lower school assembly. I can’t think of any immediate disadvantage though. Class sizes will still be the same and you have an increased chance of getting a place at a local school instead of being allocated a less popular one further away.

Could be good if both classes not 30 but end up say 25 each.

Is it really a "bulge" class, or is it going to happen every year?
If it is every year from now on, by the time your child gets to the top of the school there will be a lot more children in the same playground, (maybe even a smaller playground if they have to build extra classrooms)
If they use existing classrooms, there will be less "breakout" space for small group work. There will be more pressure on use of the hall for PE etc.,

The Head and subject leaders will have more classes to "supervise", and more teachers to "lead".

Just one more class is not such a big deal, but simply going from 3 classes to 4 could make a big difference to a small school. It is happenening to a school near me, and it means the 4th class will take up their "spare" room, which is currently used for craft activities, smaller group work, pulling out dispruptive or stressed pupils and so on.

Potential disadvantages (depending on how the school manages it):-
1) additional siblings 2 years below
2) fewer age-appropriate resources (eg books in the library for that age range, bearing in mind the bulge age range will go up the school))
3) More "competition" for clubs, teams, drama (double the number of girls wanting to be Mary!)
4) Can mean fewer textbooks at each level. As eventually the school would have to buy a complete set of textbooks for each yeargroups (as the bulge progresses), this would just not be cost-effective, so get used to photocopied worksheets!
5) Yes the class will have its teacher and TA, but there will still be the same number of admin staff, senior teachers so per pupil less support.

These issues can all be managed, but worth checking that they will be!

Is it an infant school or a primary? If an infant school, there may not be a bulge class when the year group get to juniors. Happened here - 3 classes in year 2 but only 2 in year 3 and 30 children dipersed to numerous neighbouring schools...

dispersed

Hello everyone.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I hadn't thought of everything you've all mentioned so I'm glad I asked my question on here. The one thing I hadn't even thought of was the fact that if dc1 gets in based on a bulge class this year, dc2 might not get in in 2 years time as there may not be a bulge class then. We are on the edge of the catchment area so it's definitely something to think about.

I definitely feel more confident about the sorts of things I need to ask the school about now so that's brilliant.

Our LA did it for 2 consecutive years. Our children didn't attend the school but I heard:
1) Initially it was said that a school that had been closed down in the 70s would be the grounds of the bulge class. In reality it was a ..container (sorry if that's not the right word!!) built in the playground of the old school building (with council still using the school as council offices) with poor heating and as you can imagine not very good insulation.
2) Children didn't have an indoor play area for when it rained or snowed and kept catching colds.
3) Head or deputy teachers were never on the site but only on the main site so you couldn't chat or complain to them (e.g. a specific teacher was really uncaring and had insulted DC in front of mother but the head was never there to see what was happening)
4) In the beginning only packed lunch was an option. Later when school dinners were introduced meal options were limited .e.g. no vegeterian or halal etc.

I am wondering how on earth did they all do assembly together or had access to the school library, ICT (the school had been given awards) unless they were on the main site which is not as accessible as it is for the children who attend the main site??

As it was not my experience I don't remember anything else that I was told and I don't have the full picture. But make sure that the building is of good standards and they have access to books, library etc.

Hi ninani

Thanks for replying. What you say is interesting. One of the schools we had visited (before we moved due to DP's work) accommodated their bulge class by building an outdoor classroom. It was very well kitted out, but definitely felt very different from the rest of the school. It was also much darker than the main school building and seemed a bit out of the way. That school was able to make use of their huge grounds to build the new classroom but our first choice school in the area we're now living is actually on a much smaller plot and I can't see how they'll manage this. So thank you for your help and I'll definitely ask about the things you've raised.

Thanks again.

The family dynamics are distorted with bulge classes. DS1 wnr to a school where there had been a bulge class 2 years ahead, and so he was on of only two non-younger-siblings in the class - so a lot of cliques friendship groups had been formed among the parents who weren;t really interested in new friends - over thime this changed of course, but was very hard as a family new to the school. Two years later, when teh bulginess had dipersed DS was one of only a few who were younger siblings - again not a normal distribution. Far better to have a mix of elder and younger siblings in a class.

I cannot remember where I read it, but I was under the impression that there were huge numbers of extra children about to arrive in primary school, for several years to come, and that there were going to be bulge classes all over the place to accommodate them.