ideal class size

[sailorsgal]

ds in year 3 is now in a class of nearly 20 which concerns me as I chose private for small class sizes. When he was in reception there were only 10 which I thought was probably too small. I was told 15 was the max but there has been a bit of bums on seats exercise going on and I am now considering moving him.

We have chickenpox at school at the moment. 25 is a perfect class size!

DD2 (age 8)is at a state school with 13 in her class and I think that is about the right size

This thread reminded me of this.

Pixiepotter I'd love to work in a state school that has classes of 13! Unheard of in our area.

My DCs never had less than 30 in their primary classes, often 33.

Where I teach the average is around 28, but no more than 25 in younger classes

A state school with only 13 in a class will be horrendously under funded as they will be paying for a teacher who can teach up to 30 children, when they are only receiving funding for 13 children.

In our school you'd never get a class of only 13 - they'd be combined with another year group to make a composite class

It is a mixed yr class Y3/4 ,I have no idea if it's underfunded or not.The HT has a teaching commitment and they never ever use supply (they use one of the 2 job share teachers), so that probably saves money.Also 2 of the 3 class teachers are ast (?) teachers and they go to disseminate good practice to other schools one day a week which they get funding for , but the HT covers.so they maybe manage it that way? Plus they attract quite a number of children with medical problems and SNs so prob get extra funding for that.They have just retained their ofsted outstanding so they must be happy about the books are in good shape

It is a mixed yr class Y3/4 ,I have no idea if it's underfunded or not.The HT has a teaching commitment and they never ever use supply (they use one of the 2 job share teachers), so that probably saves money.Also 2 of the 3 class teachers are ast (?) teachers and they go to disseminate good practice to other schools one day a week which they get funding for , but the HT covers.so they maybe manage it that way? Plus they attract quite a number of children with medical problems and SNs so prob get extra funding for that.They have just retained their ofsted outstanding so they must be happy that the books are in good shape

I think that you need at least 18, otherwise they can get too much spoon feeding and the mix of personalities might be difficult. Between 18 and 24 is the ideal size. HEers always think that having to wait your turn is dreadful, but I think it is good for children.

yes 13 in total, but there is another school nearby with only 12 children in total in the whole school but it is a va catholic school!

I was in a class of 21-23 at secondary, and I think that's pretty perfect. There's enough in the class to find own friends, but small enough to get a community feel. We looked after each others' backs, someone would always step forward if the form was in trouble and take the brunt-and we'd make it up to them later, and occasionally quarrelled like siblings. We were only set for maths and French.

I suspect if it's single sex, then fewer (say 15) might be better though.

Interesting DS2 is starting in September in year 7 at non selective co-ed private school in a class of 15. There will be anothr class of 15 and another intake at yr 9, not sure if class sizes then increase or they add more classes. Streaming for maths and languages.

I do feel it is small but he is the child who gets on with everyone and they do a lot of sport and social mixing with yr 8. And other positives outweigh these concerns.

So reading this thread has made me think about it a bit more.

16-18 is perfect and has always worked well for my DCS.

20

I had 28 in my private school in ghe 1980s and my DD has 28 in her state secondary. Felt quite big to me.