Class size increase AIBU?

[ClassSize2022]

I’ve name changed for this.

we are in a school that is three form entry. One of the year groups in Juniors is being increased to four form entry to accommodate children coming from Ukraine and Hong Kong.

our children were all set and ready (had met their new teacher as classes were being changed). I’m not a NIMBY but 4 classes a year seems so high! we’ve been told
it will mean smaller class sizes but we think that’s only initially as the classes will be split up.

however it’s only one year group not the others. It’s inevitable as it seems the school has been told to do it by the LA.

Yep.

I am aware of a number of Ukrainian families in our area. Immost are trying to get back home: they are mostly from very well off backgrounds and have businesses/lives they wish to get back to.

Why are you concerned though? They're not going to put more children in the school than health and safety regs allow. Unless they're literally packed in like sardines I don't think you need to concern yourself.

I really do not understand what you are worried about. Bulge classes have been a very standard way to deal with spikes in population for years. Having an extra teacher on the year 4 team can be an excellent thing for the children; when teachers can share planning and resources it frees up time to give the pupils more individual attention.

Are you concerned about the impact on future admissions from the siblings of the extra children?

i was asking you all what might be the issues etc I’m glad that it will be a very positive outcome for the school looking at your responses.

OK, great. Next time it will save a lot of bother if you actually put your question in your OP, or indeed in any of your posts.

Where was that in the OP? Just seemed like you whinging about our children having already met their teacher?

Which came across very poorly.

My only concern would be that in a couple of years there may be a large number of siblings from the bulge class meaning the catchment area will shrink. It’s only a concern if you are planning to send a child there in the next 2-4 years and won’t get a place under the sibling rule.

Those selfish refuges, coming here and making you very good and affluent school feel too "crowded", and given you smaller class sizes. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. 🙄

And since when did this preclude anyone from being racist/ zenophobic?!

You’re so far from the truth. I’m not xenophobic. I don’t need to explain my attitude on that front to a bunch of strangers. I was simply asking about large primary school, any impact on the kids, also giving a back story as to why.

I grew up as a daughter of immigrants, English wasn’t my first language etc etc I know the power of resilience from change. I think it’s very unfair of people on this forum to judge people so acutely based on one post.

What is your actual concern? The toilet blocks? The playground? I'd ask the school what their plans are.

I am the Grand-daughter and Great-Grand-daughter of refugees. We were unable to take in refugees but growing up my Grandfather had a number of people from other countries stay in our family home.

I think this thread has turned into ‘let’s make this person a racist’.

Well it seems odd to begrudge them a very small slice of your affluent middle class school then doesn't it? Especially as the impact could in fact improve things for your children (smaller class sizes).

I don't think you're racist, OP. However your posts are very unclear and you have only articulated your specific queries and concerns in your more recent posts. PP are filling in the gaps. You need to be much clearer.

i am more concerned about it being a very squashed school!

On the basis of one extra class? Assume it's already very squashed if it can't facilitate that easily?

My comment was simply that just because you are of a different/ foreign background doesn't preclude you from being racist/ xenophonic. Because it doesn't, you can absolutely be both.

I'f the school is that crammed they'll
build a temporary modular classroom(s) in the playground.

Best not to judge people from a snippet text.

Holy xenophobia, Batman.

Genuinely interested to know how many refugees are actually coming! I’ve got one starting in my class after summer and his sibling is in another class but we certainly haven’t had an “influx” which would result in having to create a new class