Mixed year classes

[Sparklypurpleunicornsaremyfav]

Sorry wasn't sure where to post...
We have just been informed by dd's school that due to them not having enough money and staff leaving etc that they are mixing years to reduce the number of classes. Infants are staying the same as is Yr 3. Yr5 is being split into 3 classes, 1 mixed with Yr 4, 1 just Yr 5 and 1 mixed with Yr 6 (should have said there are already 2 classes for each Yr) my dd going into Yr 5 is thankfully going into the class that is just Yr 5 but as they've mixed the classes she's upset that some of her friends are going to be in a different class to her. However my dd going into Yr 6 is in the class mixed with Yr 5. I'm really angry as are the majority of parents, I have not yet spoken to a single parent who is happy with this change. They have sprung it on us on Friday with no warning. I'm worried that dd and friends won't be getting the standard of education previous years have had and the other yr6 group which is just the one year will get. How does 1 teacher teach 2 different age groups, will they get the attention they need for their final year??? The school can't or won't give us any answers. Has anyone else been in this position or know how it will work??
Sorry its been long and rambling but I and other are really angry and worried!

My kids were all in split year classes, some 3 year, some 2 up until age 13/14. It made no difference in the quality of education they received, but helped them tremendously in social behaviour, the younger ones looked up to the older kids, and the older kids mentored the younger years. It was a very positive experience for all of them.

Weathermonger, but that was, presumably, in a school where mixed age classes were the norm, and staff had time to plan and deliver an appropriate curriculum for both year groups?

As I said in my post, established mixed year group classes taught by teachers experienced in teaching such classes, in a school which has experience of running such classes - absolutely fine.

That is NOT the experience of the OP - a last minute decision to split a year group over effectively 3 different setups (with Y4, alone, with Y6), an experience that is completely outside the school's normal practice, with no staff who have done this before and with no time for effective co-planning across the 5 relevant classes ....

I did my Y1 in a mixed Y1/Y2 class (French equivalent) and ended up skipping a year, ie moving straight to Y3 so obviously I think they are a great thing!