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Original poster

Mixed ability teaching vs sets

158 replies

redskybynight · 12/02/2015 20:56

Just wondered about people's opinions / experiences of mixed ability teaching versus using sets at secondary level. Our catchment secondary where DS (currently Y6) will likely go next year does not set at all except for maths. Our 2nd closest secondary (that'll be the one shouting about its great results) sets in everything from day 1.

Having gone to a selective school myself I'm having a bit of a wobble about how mixed ability teaching (and this is a genuine range of abilities comp, not MC leafy enclave) will pan out. Reassurance (or otherwise, I'd rather know the worst!)?

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 12/02/2015 22:53

I teach science and like mixed ability in KS3. I find differentiating forces me to consider individuals...

BackforGood · 12/02/2015 22:49

I'm a fan of pupils being taught alongside other pupils of roughly the same ability levels - ie, setting.
I speak both from being a teacher, and working with children with special needs, and being the parent of dds who have to waste their time, week in, week out, sitting through lessons (in Yr8) filled with work they did in Yr4 Angry.
My dds school must be the only school in the country not to set for maths.

paddyclampo · 12/02/2015 22:21

I think setting is better. Mixed ability for Maths is a complete no-no.

ttlshiwwya · 12/02/2015 22:15

Sorry posted too soon. Meant to add that I was so worried when my first was due to start that I asked the primary head for advice and she showed me some statistics which showed that results at Y11/12 for children leaving primary at the same level as my DS1 were very similar between the schools I was looking at.

ttlshiwwya · 12/02/2015 22:02

My DCs school is similar in only setting for maths in Y7 however they set for other subjects in Y8 (MFLs and science) and some other subjects in Y9. However the setting is quite fluid and because of space the whole year is effectively split into two so always 2 top sets etc. It worried me before my DS1 started but my worries were unfounded. However since my DCs all play a musical instrument and the school puts all such children in one of 2 classes to facilitate band practise then they are effectively partially streamed (some in the know make their kid take up an instrument at primary for this reason). My DCs have made a wider circle of friends than they would have had and I feel my DD in particular has actually benefited confidence wise. The only time I had an issue was in physics for my DS1 who found the pace too slow but this was sorted out quickly. He was able to switch classes to one that suited hin better ( physics is his thing).

Killasandra · 12/02/2015 21:32

Yes. English and the humanities are better mixed.

Maths is better set.

Science I'm not sure about.

Callooh · 12/02/2015 21:28

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TalkinPeace · 12/02/2015 21:06

It depends on the individual subject and how the class planning is done.
Maths is generally set first because the ability range is the widest
other stuff can safely (and productively) be taught mixed ability to year 11