composite classes.

[FattyMcSaggyChops]

Sorry, I'm aware this has probably been discussed to the max already.

DD1 has just found out she'll be in a P1/P2 composite class when she goes to P2. I don't mind this, I like the teacher and think DD will respond well to her.

My main issue is that due to an increase in the number of P1s registering there are only 6 P2s in this class (I assume aax of 25 but I school likes 22) then the other 28 P2s are in one straight class.

Is there a ratio for this type of thing.

I'm a bit concerned this 6 will be segregated socially from the others. There are 4 girls and only 2 boys And from what I can tell the boys aren't friends (one of the boys is friends with the 4 girls).

I don't want to be one of those mum's but I just feel it's a bit unfair.

So, any teachers or parents have any experience of this?

So as not to drip feed they are moving to a new school and from what I can tell room 1 & 2 (dds new class) are on the ground floor and have a separate entrance from the rest of the classes which are on 1st floor but I don't think playground is separated as it was in the old school.

It's a difficult one, and I don't think there are easy answers. Composite classes can benefit some children sometimes, or they can be detrimental ato some children sometimes.
Both my kids were in composite classes all the way up primary school.
It depends on the mix of the children, their ability, and the teacher's skill in handling the situation.

I felt the social aspect was the easiest of the situation. My children were able to make lots of new friends from the class above/below, as well as retaining their friends from their own year group.
Will their be any opportunity for your DD to have some lessons or activity with her own year group?

Yes, I think they will have some (possibly lots) of lessons together. I think academically they'll be Ok. We found out by a slip in dds bag and it was DD that said there were only 6 and they were chosen as "they were sensible and would help the P1s"

It really is mostly social, for example birthday parties, this 6 will be left from class parties (if any). Also as we are in Scotland there are lots of wet playtimes when they stay in their class.

I think if the class was split more evenly I'd be happier about it.

I'd quite like to know the reasons for the 6 that were chosen as definitely not age and I can't see it being academically?

That surprises me. In our primary school it has been done strictly by age- if it isn't I would be asking the selection criteria.

Our primary also have a little flexibility, so if a parent or pupil is clearly unhappy about the situation, there is the possibility of moving up or down. Although the rules were mostly accepted the head did allow for some movement.
I would speak to the head and ask about the situation and get an explanation as to the selection reasons.

I'm not sure that giving the explanation of "being sensible" is a very good one, these type of mistruths can create elite groups, and perhaps the feelings of those left behind being "not sensible".

My DDs best friend was in exactly the same situation as your DD, she really wanted to stay with the small P" group that were staying in the P1 class, but was moved up to a P2/3 class instead. She was very unhappy and tearful. If the explanation was that the groups staying with the P1s were there were the "sensible" ones ( ie not her) that would have made her very upset indeed.

There needs to be more clarity and transparency from the school.

I think it should have been explained better to the parents. Unfortunately the school is closed now. I could always make an appointment in the inservice days before they open after summer.

Usually I worry unnecessarily and DH is ultra laid back but even he has concerns about it.

I doubt there will be little the school will do as they've obviously had to do it this way for various reasons and then I think they've had years of experience so must know what they're doing. Who am I to question...

Thank you for responding, glad I'm not being totally unreasonable :)

ds was in a P3/4 composite this year where there were 6 P4 and the rest P3 (he was a P3). I think the P4 were selected on ability levels rather than age i.e they were closer in ability to the P3's in the class rather than selected by age.

Re: parties, if ds wanted some of the children from the other class to go to his party then they would get an invitation. They also meet up with friends in the playground/at lunchtime, etc

Thanks powerhoop can I ask though, did the parents of the P4 know it was due to ability, did the teachers explain this. I would like to think the teachers would have explained to me that it was due to dds abilities. I had no reason to suspect you wasn't progressing as well as the rest of the class from her parents evenings and reports.

I wouldn't mind if that was the case but would like to know and to know in what ways her abilities weren't as advanced as the class.

I suppose I really need to speak to the teachers.

Would I go to the head or just have a chat with the teachers?

She, not you! Oops! :)

Ds2 was in a P6/7 composite like this when he was in P7. I was really worried as there were only 3 boys and ds was not friendly with the other two. I worried that they were isolating him from his friends in the year before secondary. Ds wasn't bothered so we went with it and it all went well. I do know of another boy who was one of four (two boys) in a 1/2 composite when he was P1 and his mum felt he didn't get the chance to make a lot of friends.

Thanks jinty DD is quote sociable but also quote sensitive so I'm just hoping she'll be Ok.

I still want to bring it up with the school but more a "can you explain it to me" rather than a "I want to know why and please move my child " :)

DS2 was in lots of composite classes, and being the youngest in his year and the split being by age it was good for him socially, as he ended up in a class with more pupils the same age as him due to the number that had deferred. Some of the classes were streamed, so he got to see others from his year group in that context. The teachers were used to doing composite classes and seemed to deal well with the mix of abilities and levels of study.