Separate twins for year 2 at school?

[SippingSipsmith]

Hi

Sorry I realise this question has been asked in pots of iterations. We've always kept our non ID DT girls together for pre school, nursery, reception and year 1.

They're starting to look at the classes for next year and asking if I want to separate them. So many pros and cons I can't decide. Has anyone else separated their twins in primary school and at what stage and how did it go?

2 other sets of twins in their year. One parent separated them for year 1 and the other is going to do the same for next year. They are ID though and people keep mixing them up etc.

There's no real reason for me to separate them. Teacher says one is dominant and it might be good for the less dominant one but the less dominant one is more dominant at home so it kind of levels out.

Any personal experiences or advice? Thanks

[Ilove]

Separate. They need individual identities and individual friendships

[Keziah2020]

I would keep them together because it otherwise limits the time they get to spend together - evenings and weekends etc. That doesn't seem fair to me. High School they can work on independence but still quite young right now, sit at separate tables if they must but not separate classes.

I don't have a relationship with most of my siblings because I hardly saw them in my childhood as we were a different schools. We missed years of bonding time and now don't really want anything to do with each other as adults.

I dont have twins, just my experience.

[HarleyS]

No experience, but when I was at primary school there were two sisters born nine months apart, two boys born nine months apart, one sister and one brother born nine months apart and me and my cosin, all in one class, it was nice. When we went to the same secondary school we were all split into separate classes, there were nine classes of 30 in one year. It made secondary school nicer too, everyone knew each other and each others new classmates. I know not exactly the answer you're looking for.

[Fanjango]

My twins went to a single intake school for primary so it wasn't an issue. They were never sat together and it was fine.

[SippingSipsmith]

Thanks everyone. Can't decide so keeping them together as hasn't been an issue so far and this is what they want. Have asked that they continue to seek opportunities for them to
Be separated within class I.e. different groups for activities which they will do anyway. Think it would be more distributive them being apart and the change to
Year 1 has been quite difficult for them so wanting next year to be calmer.

[TwinsAreDrivingMeMad]

I separated my twins in Yr1 after they’d been together since Nursery. It was a difficult decision, but they argued a lot so I thought having time apart might help (not sure it has though - see my other post!) When I asked them what they wanted to do, one wanted to stay together and the other wanted to go into separate classes - I think I would have kept them together if that’s what they had both wanted.

In hindsight, I think for us it was the right decision. I think it’s nice they were together for Nursery and Reception, while they were still getting used to school and finding their feet but it’s been good for them to forge their own friendships and gain a bit of independence. One is more academic than the other so I think being in separate classes helps with that so one isn’t always being unfavourably compared.

There’s no right or wrong answer so I would say go with your gut. If there’s no pressing reason to separate and they don’t want to, it won’t harm to keep them together for a few more years.