AIBU to be concerned about DS in school...

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He starts reception in Sept. 28 intake - he is one of two boys. Is this an issue? DH concerned it'll affect him growing up only having the one male friend before high school. They do mix between years and of course there will be playtimes etc.

He's now the only boy in preschool - there was another but parents pulled him out to go back to nursery during lockdown.

I don't know how I feel to be honest, I'm on the fence...

Is DH BU to be concerned? Does anyone have any experience?

One of my sons class is the other way round, 24 boys and 6 girls, only 2 of the original girls remain as there were a lot of friendship issues. I wouldn’t be happy to send my son as one of only 2 boys, when they get to year 2 the girls and boys stop mixing IME, my son was very upset when the girls suddenly didn’t want to play with him. I could imagine it might be lonely if the other boy is off sick or leaves.

@CecilyP

Except it’s not because other years are likely to be more balanced.

But that won't really help the OPs son as his class will possibly only mix with other years during lunchtime or playtime and at many schools even this doesn't happen and reception are a separate entity.

Plus as others have said whilst in previous years they might have tried to mix the year groups this is much less likely to happen currently due to covid.

But if you don’t send your son there the other boy will be completely alone! Not your problem really, but still.

I have to say that wouldn’t impact on my thinking. As parents, our job is to think of what most benefits our own children, nor other peoples.

No, I wouldn’t want to send my son there with those ratios.

I wouldn’t send my dc there

My DC went to a very small primary and hadn't a great range of friends but 2 boys in a class of 28 is very unusual. I teach in a small Primary and we have had classes with 2 boys or 2 girls but it would be with maybe 8 of the other. Also it's a multi class situation so they would be in the same class as another bunch of kids so would make friends there.
Are there boys in the neighbourhood not going there? Are there opportunities to meet boys eg football teams? An issue could be meeting them at a team sport but they know each other from school and he is on the edge.
Also as there is 28 it's not exactly a small class so the school will hardly be encouraging others to join.
It's not a great situation. Where did all those girls come from?

Thank you all for your replies.

There is only DS and this other boy in the village. Even in pre-school DS is the only boy. The 26 girls are all from the village / surrounding areas (lanes).

You have given me food for thought. I am now leaning to my DH's way of thinking.

There is beavers in the village and a football team locally, but again, nobody is age.

Such a pickle!

So there are lots of other boys in the other year groups? As long as that is the case it wouldnt bother me tbh. He'll have plenty of chance to hang out with boys in the playground/after school etc.

I would double check again with the office as that seems very unusual and I wouldn’t like it. I don’t think you can assume mixing across years for some time. There is zero mixing during the school day at our school at the moment- they have their own areas of the playground etc and the bubbles are being managed tightly.