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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To kick up a fuss re school classes

47 replies

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 11:55

Opinions please...ESP from any teachers would be appreciated.
(Scottish primary)

Ds is February born so started school aged 5.5 rather than 4.5 as in Scotland we had a choice, this makes him among the oldest in his class. Ds is aged 10 now and just about to finish p5. There is a boy in his class who is a full year younger, having started aged 4.5.

Anyway ds has had a terrible time at school so far due to various reasons and due to a recent house move is on his 3rd primary school which he has grown to love and has now made good friends.

He came home from school yesterday really upset because the class lists for next term had been issued and the rest of his p5 class are moving up to p6 with the exception of ds and 2 other boys, one of which is the whole year younger and a couple of girls who are being put in to a composite 5/6 class. WHY?????????

He feels he is dumb now and thinks it must be because he is not clever enough. I am furious as I can see how this has affected him, his confidence and after finally settling in and enjoying school this is the last thing we need.

Any suggestions why this decision has been made?? We have had no issues reported regarding his learning or ability. Any suggestions on how to tackle this as we want him to move to the older class where he wants to be. I realise this may sound trivial but its a big thing to my ds.

OP posts:

loopyluna · 29/06/2013 12:03

YANBU to ask the teacher the reasons behind the decision, but YABU to kick up a fuss without speaking to them first.
They probably have a few criteria for organising the classes and I doubt it's purely based on academic level.
Sorry your DS has taken it badly though. Hope you find some sort of solution...

BreeWannabe · 29/06/2013 12:05

The making up of composite classes have nothing at all to do with academic level. Please reassure your son on that. If you're not happy then just ask them to clarify, but you don't need to worry IMO (I'm a teacher in Scotland so speaking from experience :) )

BreeWannabe · 29/06/2013 12:06

*has nothing at all

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:07

DD is february born and was in a primary 3 composite class 2/3 I think they do composite classes because of ratio and I really think it does them no harm at all I think your son will be fine I dont think he will suffer and it is nothing to do with him being dumb It is a shame when they are not with their friends but he can see them at playtime, just try and put it too him that he will get P6 work and the P5s will get their own work ,

toobreathless · 29/06/2013 12:07

Are you sure they have read the date of birth correctly & haven't just glanced at the feb bit and assumed he is the same age as the younger boy?

If there are no academic reasons why he would benefit from being in the younger class then it does seem an odd decision. Could it be due to the fact that he has just started and they are struggling to find people who want to go into that class & rink he won't mind?

I won't be overly pleased either, definately go in & discuss it.

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:07

That's just it though, what is the criteria for organising classes? It can't be by date of birth in this case as my son would be amongst the first to go into the straight p6 class then.

It can't be alphabetical as that doesn't work in this case either.

I just want to understand the logic and reasoning behind this as at the moment my head is spinning and I need to know why.

I am very angry and I can't help feeling they have failed to communicate with us as there must be issues we don't know about and that isn't fair.

OP posts:

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:08

I was in a composite class in primary 4 just remembered cant say it made any difference

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:10

I dont think they have issues with your son I think you should have contacted them yesterday you dont want to seethe about this all summer, if he was put into another primary 6 class and not with his friends would you still be concerned ?

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:10

Oh and part of the reason he is devastated is that the P6/P7 s have there own 'area' within the school and also have their own playground, obviously now he is separated into the more junior section so it is a huge blow after assuming he would be moving up.

OP posts:

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:12

he will be allowed to go round to the bigger playground because he is primary 6 they will let them go round ,

IneedAyoniNickname · 29/06/2013 12:12

Friendship.groups? I asked the teacher at our (english) primary how they decide, and she said its a combination of age, ability and friendship.groups. so ds1, who is August born and the youngest.in his year ends up in a class that's either purely his year group, or composite with a younger one. Currently they have yearr4 class and year 3/4 class. Ds (who is in year4) is in the mixed. Next year I imagine he will be in the year 5 not year 5/6

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:15

Just to clarify, the school didn't answer their phone as we called immediately after reading the news from 4.15 onwards and the phone just rung out!

He has one week left of school so will be writing a letter to the head on Monday but just want opinions and best advise on how to tackle this.

Yes I am angry about him feeling kept back and effectively cut off from the upper area where he has been looking forward to moving. He is also 10.5 and very tall and they want him to work in a class with 8 year olds.

OP posts:

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:18

He has one week left of school so will be writing a letter to the head on Monday but just want opinions and best advise on how to tackle this.

oh ok see our schools have finished, just phone them or email say your son is a bit upset about it and you just need to make sure he will be happy next year, he hasnt been kept back though he is still a primary 6 they will be nearer 9 though, I understand why you are annoyed though you obviously made a decision to defer him till her was 5 and a half so he is older and then you feel he is still being penalised for having a feb birthday

Baroozer · 29/06/2013 12:24

Sometimes it's to do with personality. It may be that your DS is well known for being really patient with younger children so they have put him in the composite rather than a child who is more snappy. Or maybe they have seen that he was finding his class difficult and thought that it might be better for him to be able to make new friends in the year below, just t boost his confidence a bit.

My DD is starting P1 in a P1/P2 composite. She will be the youngest in that class by four months. There is another solely P1 class which has a child in it who will be almost six when she starts school. I was told by a nursery teacher that DD has been put in the composite class because of her unflappable personality.

mrsjay · 29/06/2013 12:27

I know a few people who hate the idea of composite classes I was speaking to a mum a few weeks ago and she is still going on about how bad it was (it wasn't) and our kids are now going into 5th year OP try and sort it for your own peace of mind and your sons

zukiecat · 29/06/2013 12:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

indyandlara · 29/06/2013 12:34

He isn't bring kept back. Ability has nothing to do with it. Age is usually the deciding factor. You need to make sure you reinforce with your child that he is not being kept back as there is a good chance you will not be able to have him moved into the other class.

zukiecat · 29/06/2013 12:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:35

Thanks everyone. I have a very logical way of thinking and I think I am so upset about this because I just can't see the logic behind the structure of classes.

I think my fear is that there are issues we haven't been made aware of or that maybe parents have asked that he is not classed with their child next year?? Could that be it? Yes I am a worrier also

We don't know many people here yet with being new to the area but ds seems to have lots of friends of all ages but can be bossy and outspoken

I guess the bottom line is...can this decision be changed if we go in with a letter to try and persuade the school it would be detrimental to my sons well being?

OP posts:

CloudsAndTrees · 29/06/2013 12:36

I'm not sure I completely understand.

Is he being held back a year, or is he still going to be a P6 student in a class of P5's?

It's not a composite class if only one or two children from a different year group are in it!

If they are holding him back a year because of academic ability, then I would question why that is and why you haven't had discussions about his progress before now. Tbh though, if he's been through 3 primary schools already then there may well be gaps in his knowledge and a need to repeat some things.

If he's not being held back a year and he will be a P6 student, then I would be kicking up a huge fuss. How are they going to ensure he doesn't repeat stuff he already knows. How are they going to ensure his self esteem isn't damaged? How are they going to make sure he achieves his academic potential in a class where the majority of children are behind him? How are they going to encourage his independence if he is still going to be treated the same as younger children?

I'd make an appointment to see the head, and go in with a letter. Discuss everything, then give in your letter and copy it to the governors. They have to address things more thoroughly if you write.

northlight · 29/06/2013 12:36

As others have explained, he is not being kept back. I find it odd that the school has not had a meeting to explain these changes. Perhaps compositing is so routine at your child's school objections are not anticipated. However, as you are a new parent they should have realised that you might need explanations and reassurance.

Composite class sizes are restricted to twenty-five, while the maximam class size for a straight year stage is thirty-three. Schools have no choice but to composite in order to adhere to these ratios and, educationally, there really is no problem. From a teaching point of view, there is no difference between a standard year group and a composite since standard year groups contain a wide age and ability range anyway. Your son will have the advantage of a smaller class size.

i would be very surprised if the composited primary sixes don't have the same perks and privileges as the straight sixes.

Don't go in with all guns blazing because it is quite likely that the school handbook given to you on enrolment outlines the school's or authority's policy on compositing. I don't rule out a mistake being made on the date but ca canny and keep your powder dry until you find out the lie of the land.

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:38

Indy - if age is usually a deciding factor then my son would not be going into a composite class with younger ones, he would be first in line for straight p6.

OP posts:

Original poster

LucieLucie · 29/06/2013 12:40

Clouds -ds is moving to p6 but being put in a composite class with mostly p5s who are likely to be as young as 8 years old and because of this separated from the rest of p6/7s

OP posts:

marcopront · 29/06/2013 12:41

Can you send an email to his current class teacher and ask the reasons for the grouping. He/she may check the email at the weekend.

CloudsAndTrees · 29/06/2013 12:42

So do you know if he will still be treated as a P6 by being allowed into the other area and doing what the others do?

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