42 in one year 2 class am I over reacting?

[goodgrief54]

My dc go to a village school rated as outstanding by ofsted who have just become an academy. I have found out that the already huge year 1 class my dd is in will expand to 42 in september with one dedicated qualified teacher.

Am i over reacting to be concerned? Does the fact they are foundation mean they can take as many children as they like? I have asked for a meeting with head and chair of governors to be arranged anything else I should do?

thanks for your help..

[outoffuel]

I have a 3.5yo. If I found out that he was in going into a class that size is be upset- and would more than likely be contacting the private schools locally and asking for a transfer (and selling a kidney to do so). 42 is just too many. So I think you're justified in feeling angry about this.

[Sirzy]

I can only assume infant class size rules don't apply to academies then?

What sort of support staff will be in the class?

I would seriously be considering moving schools, no way can a teacher adequately support the needs of so many pupils

[exoticfruits]

When you say 'one dedicated, qualified teacher' I assume that you mean she is full time - there must be others part time- qualified and TAs. What is the set up? What is the room like? Is it team teaching?
You can't really do anything until you have had the meeting and found out how it is to be organised.
Write out a list of questions before you go- it is easy to forget on the day.
If you still don't find it satisfactory there is nothing further you can do- except change schools.

[gymboywalton]

i think that is outrageous. that class needs to be split in two. they should aslo have a ta-do they not?

[gymboywalton]

i am worrying about working with a class of 31 next term. 42 would be ridiculous.

[exoticfruits]

The other thing to ask is how they move up the school? Are they all year 1? It sounds to me as if it is 42 because you have reception in with them, in which case only the yr1's will move up next year. Schools generally can't cope with 42 in a classroom, particularly village schools.
Is it not that you have 2 years together and other teachers who have reception but are not full time?

[goodgrief54]

Thanks for your comments.

we have been told there will be one full time qualified teacher in y2 who will also oversee the 2 full time teachers in y3. There is also one full time TA in the y2 class. Is this legal??

[BetterToLaugh]

42 is shocking. DD is in a class of 31 and I don't like it but nothing I can do. Do you mean they're foundation stage going in to year one next term? How will the teachers and TA's be able to listen to that many children read etc at least once a week.

[goodgrief54]

Exoticfruits they are all one year group y1 now going to y2 in sept. I do not know how they will physically fit into classrooms. school is v small and old building

[BetterToLaugh]

Sorry just seen your reply. I don't know if there are laws regarding numbers for key stage 1, I thought that they were aiming for 30 or under but not sure.

[gymboywalton]

i would be talking to the head and if i got no joy i would be moving schools tbh.

i would NOT want my child in a class of 42. trust me-it will impossible for them to get the kind of attention and support they need.

[gymboywalton]

right-have just googles and the legal limit is 30

[exoticfruits]

If they are moving up the school as a class of 42 I would move your child.
Are the year 3 teachers not qualified?

[goodgrief54]

Yes the y3 teachers both qualified but both new to school one nqt and one with 3 years experience. there has been talk of taking the 10 lowest ability out of classes 2 and 3 at certain points in day to teach them separately but I am unsure if this is correct until i mert head. tbh though i do not feel this is enough.. am i right?

[goodgrief54]

meet not mert!

[MaybeBentley]

Still confused, so is the class a mixed Y2 / Y3 class?

[goodgrief54]

No the 42 are all y2 in one class.

They may at some points in day take some y 2 and some y3 to a different room but tbh i dont know if this is the case or how this would work until I see the head which now wont be until sept. i am also v confused...

[mrz]

www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/primary/faqs/a00204922/admissions-and-school-places-faqs
Do academies have to comply with the infant class size rules?

Yes. All academies with infants on roll have to comply with the infant class size rules in the same way as they would have as maintained schools. This requires them to organise classes of children of compulsory school age who are aged under 8 in classes of 30 or fewer per teacher.

[MaybeBentley]

I think you need to be asking the headteacher how the teaching groups will be organised. 42 Year 2s on the register and having lessons together with one teacher and TA seems wrong. 42 on the register, then splitting and going to lessons (mixed in with the year 3s if necessary), with a qualified teacher in groups of less than 30 I would be happy with.

[prh47bridge]

Infant class size rules apply to all schools including academies.

The school cannot legally run a single Y2 class of 42 pupils with one teacher. I think you need to find out what they mean when they talk about having one dedicated qualified teacher. If this teacher is going to run the class on their own that is illegal and the presence of a TA will not change that. If, however, there will always be other, non-dedicated, teachers (e.g. the Y3 teachers) in the class they are not breaking the law.

[Llareggub]

How has the class size suddenly reached 42? What was the class size last year?

[goodgrief54]

There are 4 more children joining in sept. there are currently 38 in y 1.

From what I understand the class will be 42 with one dedicated teacher then for a couple of hours each day some of the children will be taught elsewhere, i can only assume by one of the 2 year 3 teachers.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

That is entirely mad and I would not be happy.

DDs year group is 42. There are two classes. (it's also a state academy)