Talk to me about class sizes...teachers/parents?

[Flum]

HOw important is it? Considering mov ing our Yr1 to a village school but she will go from a class of 22 to 27. OUr DD2 will start in September and instead of a class of 21 at town school would be in class of 27 at village school.

This does seem a b big difference to me. Does it matter? Is it likely that these small infant classes would be combined with other year groups in later years so actually not be a benifit.

Both are state schools.

Have to get kids up and take to school and nursery but WILL be back.

This could be a deal breaker....made my final decision for the village school last night but woke up this morning with cold feet about the bigger class sizes.

Other factors as well village school has v. good behaviour and perhaps a bit more challenging in class school.

[cococake]

Depending on nature of your children class size isn't necessarily the deal breaker.

If you have confident children, who can concentrate to a certain degree (of course in comparison to their age) on a task, then having more in the class shouldn't be cause for concern.

If you have less confident children, or those who are easily distracted class size may be more of a consideration.

If you haven't done so have a look round the school during a normal school day, how are the children in lessons, look more at the ones that the teacher isn't drawing your attention to, are they getting on with their work, are they staring into space, are they getting up to mild mischief?

Also how many TAs are there in the class?

HTH

[ChasingSquirrels]

which school is your local school?

[soapboxqueen]

I agree with cococake. I have taught in a range of schools with varying class sizes and it doesn't seem to have much of an impact. Other than the issues of large classes (36+) in small classrooms. Some government group (DCSF?) researched the effect of class sizes and found that the classes had to be very small for it to begin to have an impact. Most over-subscribed schools are bursting at the seems so they must be doing something right. Your dd2 may benefit from a smaller class size because she may get more attention than in a larger class. However, she will also have a smaller pool of friends to choose from.

Check out each school and see which one 'feels' better to you. I always find this a better indication.

[Flum]

Mmm they are both local. We are on the boundary of the catchment. The nearest is the town school which is undersubscribed but my daughter goes there and I am very pleased with it. We are considering moving her to the slightly more cosseted environment of the village school 1.2 miles away as behaviour is supposed to be better and so kids can get on with there work more easily.

I am totally torn, they are different schools with different feels both nice in their own way. One towny and colourful and vibrant. One calm, cosy and villagy - bit cramped if truth be told!

[smee]

I think there are actually advantages in having a slightly larger class; more kids at your ability level, more choice of friends, etc. Also have you checked on TA levels? Maybe a smaller class won't have a TA the whole time/ at all? So if the larger class does, that's a better adult/ child ration iyswim. I'd have thought the key thing is when you visit the new school does it seem calm and happy? You could have a smaller class that's more rowdy, or alternately with insanely strict discipline.

[Cortina]

Book I am currently reading says:

Class size only begins to make a significant difference when you get to around 15 per class, which is impossibly expensive for all but the best-endowed independent schools.

Dylan Wiliam 'Content then process' 2007.

Interesting view. Class sizes are apparently not a magic bullet for raising standards.

[Flum]

mmmm interesting.