Is 24 in a prep school class too many?

[PercyVerance]

Worry is starting to set in about DS getting into our local primary as it recently got an outstanding Ofsted and rumour has it that twice as many children have applied as there are places.

With this in mind I've started to look at the possibility of nearby prep school. After a quick chat with the admissions lady, she told me that they are expecting an intake of around 24 this year and that they would be in 1 class with 1 teacher and 2 teaching assistants. Is this a bigger class than you would expect for an independent school?

If we do end up going down this route it would mean a massive financial commitment for us so I'd want to be absolutely sure that it was worth it. I was just a bit suprised as I had though around 15 was average?

We had 20 in Reception moving up to 24 in Y3. I think that's fine.

I actively crossed schools off my list that had classes of less than 17. I wanted it to be bustling and vibrant not a constant, calm hand-holding situation.

I think most of the oxford group(top 30 boarding preps in the country)have classes of less than 17

I was certainly not looking for them to board so they would not have hit my radar.

To me, 18-20 is a good number because it gives lots of opportunity for a good social mix. Lots of noise and vibrancy and a bit less removed from real life and the experience of everyone else.