why do schools insist on jumbling classes every year.....

[staydazzling]

in an ideal world where all kids ended up with who they wanted it would be ok, but more theyll get 2 friend options and end up with 1,which can lead to disappointment in young children, it never seems to be an even split, lets say a class of 30,and 3 classes ends up. with like 15 in one class, 6 in one and 9 in another, it must be quite unsettling at times aswell, AIBU to wonder if its all necessary? (dripfeed i went a v. small school so no change of class ever till. comp back inthe days where classes were nearly 40 )

I’ve seen pros and cons of both sides. Growing up we pretty much stayed in the same class from reception to y6, and then all spread to different secondaries. When my dc went to school the classes were rearranged almost every year, not just within year groups, but to create different composite classes as well. Staying together as a group meant that kids - and families - built strong bonds over the years. Mixing up meant that bad combinations of dc could be separated, and they sometimes ended up with a wider group of friends. It did lead to a lot of end of term anxiety though, which could maybe have been managed better.

Our primary school used to mix them in year 1-4 then they stayed as they were. One of the teachers told me that it was because a) the kids learned from an early age to adapt to making friends so when they all went off to different secondary schools or were in different streams from their best friend, they still had the ability to mix in well b) it gave them the opportunity to break up the 'dodgy' friendships - where maybe one was too dominant and leading the other astray or the two friends were a bit of a handful in class.

It didn't really make much difference for DS. He had a best friend but never sat with him in class even though they were in the same class - teacher just split them up because of ability. So he and his mate just really got together at break times - which they would have done if they'd been in different classes.

They split them in year 3 at our school and it never seems to work well. My son played with anyone and everyone in his class until they all got mixed up with the other year 3 classes and everyone got separated. Now he will only play with a select group of kids he knew from his old class. From speaking with other parents their children are doing the same. They mixed the classes every year when I was at primary school and one year they even mixed my year with the year below! Never understood why they did that and it always caused upset.

Because it sets them up for Secondary where they will have 10 different subjects all with different kids in each one.

My dd has really benefited from the class swop a year ago. She wasn’t being “bullied” as such but the drip drip of nasty comments left her sobbing every Monday morning. She was really upset when told her new class but it has been amazing for her. She’s been much happier this year.

Mostly because parents complain about that one child.
If you don't know who that child is.
They are probably yours.

I wish our school did it more often tbh. Some groupings of kids just don't work.

It forces them to make new friends (whilst being able to keep up old ones). My DD changed classes every year and moved to secondary school without blinking. DS stayed with the same class for Y3-Y6 and struggled once he was away from his friendship group.

School is preparation for life. You wont be living with, at college with, at uni with, working with your best mate for ever more. It's far healthier to mix the classes up a little and get different dynamics.

Beside - lunch and break will coincide. Ergo lessons are for learning, free time is for socialising,

My eldest went to a primary with no class mixing after Reception. By year 6 her friendships were claustrophobic and she barely acknowledged the kids in the other class as she had never got to know them.

My second child is in a school that mixes classes each year. It’s great. They end up with less claustrophobic friendship groups and a wider social circle. They get used to change before secondary and the teachers can ensure bad behaviour is balanced between the classes and disruptive friendships are split.

My primary classes were always mixed at the start of the new academic year. That was nearly 30 years ago. All of my kids have gone through infants/juniors and they’re mixed/mixing. It’s only been secondary that they’re not mixed. I think it’s a good idea to mix, means they get to integrate with other kids that they didn’t last year plus they get new teachers.

I hate this. I understand the logic, but when you have a child with social difficulties, it becomes an absolute nightmare. They have completely mixed my daughter's class up for next year, and not one of her close friends will be in the same class with her. It took her two years to settle into this class. I am dreading September.

And by not mixing in secondary I mean they have the same tutor group from yr7-11 but separate for subjects then come back together. But I think that is standard form across secondaries in general.

I requested my DS's class be mixed up next year and his teacher agreed with me. There are a few pupils in his class he gets on with but some he really doesn't. Plus there are a few children who don't like my son - various reasons, some of which we are working on. I am very happy with his class allocation for next year, not least the fact that his teacher will be teaching him again next year (staffing changes happen every couple of years to keep it fresh)

Dc1 class was mixed at the start on KS2. They did the write down 3 names and we'll put you with at least 1 friend thing. He ended up with all 3 and made some new friends too so worked well. However dc2 class is being mixed after y1. He only wrote down one name - the child who happened to be sitting next to him at the time. Several other parents report their DC did the same and with 4 classes being mixed, many of them aren't with their friendship groups. I'm sure they will make new friends, but I think it was done at too young a stage if it was really intended to give them some say in which friends they stayed with.

I think it’s great . I think that children still need to form new friendships , different class dynamics, change can be challenging so I think to mix it up is good .

My son is primary was part of a big group , they were split up for very good reason , they took over everything , it gave the other children in the class time to grow, the all still played together,

Children were also moved so the Ta could support bathe Sen children ,

Kids do make new friends, when they move up to high school they will be a very small fish in a big pond and split into different Tutor groups

My DCs school does this every year, like others have said there are positives and negatives to it. I've been told a huge amount of time and thought goes into it. They make sure they separate children who have a clash of personalities, or if one child becomes controlling of another. They also want to split the more boisterous children evenly between the classes. It's also a case of matching teachers to children. This year one of the teachers is moving up a year and they have made sure she will not be teaching any of the children from her old class next year.
Overall I would have been happy for them to keep the classes the same as last year as my DC got on very well there, but can see why some people would want to change.

AIBU to wonder if its all necessary?

Why don’t you ask the school?

Mixing is for a number of reasons; balancing the number of boy and girls, term of birth, high, middle and low ability, SEN, EAL, it goes on. Friends is at the bottom of the bloody list!

Sounds a bit odd to me, I've never heard of a school doing that.

We have mixed tear groups, so 50% of the kids change each year anyway.

The classes are mixed every year. So far I think it's a good think.

They can maximise TA support for those with SEN and it means they can split up disruptive kids/bad pairings/friendship fallouts.

My DD has a bit of a meltdown this time as her two best friends aren't with her - but st school she plays in s group of 5 kids, so the teacher wouldn't know which ones she considered a best friend.

I agree it gives the kids chance to make new friends and get space from others.

Ours are streamed for phonics in ks1 and most subjects in ks2, so they'll all be constantly moving round anyway

Thinking about secondary.. when I went they did the standard same form class and tutor for years 7-11, some subjects in your form class, some set by ability, and then by options in y10/11. When ds1 went they didn’t have a form class as such (registration was vaguely done by house) and they were with a different group of kids for pretty much every subject. I don’t think that worked so well as it was harder to form friendships, and there was no one tutor who knew them well, and was that anchoring point if they were struggling.

DDs reception class is being mixed up with the other for year 1. It seems like they are only swapping 6 children though and possibly the children that need lots of extra help going in with a teacher with a SEN teaching background.

DD is delighted as she has more friends in the other class and most of those being swapped into her class are her friends.

The teachers are also changing around and DD has her reception teacher again. I'm delighted as she is ace.

My DC’s school is single form entry, so they can’t do it.

My primary school did this. I loved it. I gave me occasional respite from the bullies, or at least broke up their gang.

The difference between my class and my partner teacher's class this year has been HUGE and they would really benefit from being mixed up for next year, so one class doesn't go through the school being 'that class' with a terrible reputation. I very much support sensible, well managed mixing which is done to balance classes and support children's needs.