Mixed year groups

[karen01]

HI my dd has just started a new school this term and the School have mixed year classes. She should have gone into year3 but is in a year 3/4 class. As far as she has told me they are not being split into the year groups for lessons they are all doing the same.

Onw thing that is worrying me is that she has always been one of the top pupils in her class which I think has helped in keeping her interested in school. (all her stat results were above average.3's) My fear is now she will be receiving lower marks in testsdue to them being a year ahead of her (two tests so far in maths and spelling. maths was a quick fire roound timestables she got 5/20. spelling she got 1/5.) I was wondering whether her getting lowmarks could have a detrimental effect on her i.e not liking school anymore.

I know this may sound daft and might not make sense as I am not v good at explaining thigs effectivly.
How should I go about approaching the school. (It is a forces school as we are in Cyprus!.so can't change.)
Any advise welcome.

I think that I understand the problem - and I would definately approach her teacher with your concerns (I'm a primary teacher in a montessori school in france, with mixed age groups). The teacher needs to make sure that the children themselves are aware that some have more experience than the others, and that they get a huge clap on the back if their marks are up with the older ones.
The other thing you could try, is to talk this through with your child yourself - it depends if she has a competitive nature, or not - to see if she wants to rise to the challenge.
It's a difficult one - we do not make a big deal out of marks in Montessori, for this very reason.
Good luck - the teacher should really understand your dilemma, and be able to adjust things accordingly ie. maybe 2 different tests, one for the younger ones and another for the older?

Thanks Froggiebaby for your advice. DD is very competitive and does really enjoy doing well at school etc and tries really hard. I think i will make an appointment with her teacher to discuss the situation. But it worries me that next year she will just be repeating!!

she won't be. if they teach in two year groups they'll have a cycle of teaching that is 2 years so that they cover what they're meant to. some of the work will stretch her this year more than if she was in a single year group. the teacher is also differentiating between the years- even if its by results and expectations. Plus they'll probably be doing different maths work. by all means go in to school to have your fears allayed as I'm sure they will be but unless you ask you won't find out will you