Private school class sizes going up? AIBU?

[Meepme]

Our class is now at 16, but when my daughter started, it was 10. I'm debating what I'm actually paying for if they keep increasing the classes. AIBU?

Yabu for not seeing your privilege.

What year is your daughter in? If it is a primary attached to a secondary you may find the numbers increasing as she goes to Y5 & Y6 as parents move from state schools to get a place at the secondary. The class sizes often start tiny and increase as they go up the school

I work in a prep school and the class sizes are 16. 10 is very small for class sizes. It is economically unviable for a private to have such a small class size.

“The cuteness of 10 in reception”

So your concern isn’t actually for her education and how it might be impacted in a “bigger” class. Your worried about the aesthetic of 16 children in a class… 🙄

Do you know what the class sizes are in the secondary school? You may find they are 20-25 or at GCSE in some classes even 30

Not where I work. Small independent school class sizes max 10. It's amazing to work there and see the children flourish.
Friendships not an issue as students not restricted to their year group to make friends

Has the school actually increased their capacity? Or were they just undersubscribed when your child joined? Yabu to be annoyed if they told you in reception that there could be up to 16/18/whatever in a class. Yanbu if they promised that class sizes would remain at 10.

When you decided to send your child there, what maximum did they tell you the class size was? 18/20 is not unusual for independent primaries. 10 would be too small in my opinion.

10 kids per class?! I never even knew schools like that existed…

The idea makes me feel claustrophobic. Sure kids need more than that provides in order to find their tribe and have real choice over friendships. Especially if they tend to divide themselves into boy and girl friendship groups.

10 is way too small.

My 2 girls were in exceptionally small classes for 3 years (my eldest had 6 girls In the entire class for 2 years 🤪) and guess what - the school has had to merge with another school from sept ....

So I'd opt for a through school.

Top independent senior schools are 24 - 26 minimum (girls schools) as they are hard working girls ....

Small school size - rubbish is sports - not the same opportunities

Cash flow won't be great - so they could end up bust or merging

@STARCATCHER22 cuteness is the wrong word but it was small enough at reception for every child to get a lot of attention. I guess I meant that was also sweet, a small group.

@fedupallthisrubbish I have friends whose kids are in schools this size ie 6. That's very tiny imo.

I'd love a class of 16.
I haven't had a class below 30 for years.

Your daughter is happy. I'm not really sure what you're putting so much value (literally) on a class of 10 vs 16..

If I had a class of 16 I could easily get round them all and support them/extend them very well.
30 is a different story.

@goldenlocks why say I don't realise how privileged I am? Am I meant to be grateful I can send my child to private school even if it's not quite what I signed up for in terms of class sizes? I literally just asked what people think about class sizes!

Private Primaries, especially those attached to selective secondaries, tend to always increase class sizes at he traditional entry points for school: Year 1, Year 3, Year 5 (for other private kids wanting to squeeze in just before the exam), and Year 6 (for State kids who have passed but may need to settle in before Secondary).

Ours have started at 16 and are likely to rise to 21-28 in Year 6 until it goes back down again in Secondary. But you can’t compare it to State (where class sizes are 30) because these aren’t normal kids - they are motivated with engaged parents. Just being around kids like that will be beneficial for your child. Not to mention all of the other non-academic benefits of private school such as PE / Sports everyday, focus on languages / STEM. It’s a totally different school experience.

@Muddygreenfingers thank you, I'm appreciating all the teacher inputs!

@Wenfy good point about traditional entry points. We are seeing a lot of new children generally

Schools are struggling to recruit teachers and that includes private schools. It's little wonder class sizes will be affected.

Completely agree with this. Taught a class of 12 once - 10 boys, 2 girls. Really flat atmosphere within the classroom - would not recommend!

20 in a class is the norm for an independent school. I’d be concerned if they couldn’t fill the class. Are they problems with the teaching standards or results or in a very quiet area?

10 kids PLUS a TA!!!

Nah!

I'm a reception teacher in a state school in the most deprived area of the city I live in..,

Ive 28 in my class and it's super busy but my environment is set up to cope with this! It's great!

Also i am biased as I think that education should be universal and that private schools should all be scrapped! Especially as the standard of teaching isn't better!(is challenge any private school teacher to come and teach in my school and model their "outstanding" practise)

It's 20 per class in the private school (secondary) where I am. We are struggling to recruit teachers same as everywhere and cost of everything is increasing. It's either increase class sizes or the school shuts all together. It's still significantly less than state schools where it can be up to 35.

@Sausageeggschipsandbeans I think its because I'm in an area of uber competitive schools whereas this isn't one. Children who join later (I think) can't cope with the hothouse environment of other schools and come here. But I'd say its not a must go school like HB

Anything under 15 per class is too small. Not enough to work socially in my experience.
It also can’t possibly be financially viable. 10 kids, a teacher and a TA?? No idea how they’re affording that. My kids independent has between 16 and 22 per class depending on age. Maybe one TA for all 4 classes across the year group. It’s academically selective so extra support in the classroom is not really something they expect to routinely provide.