Twins in separate classes?

[icf90]

We recently found out DT's have both been accepted into our #1 primary choice which is great. School have been in contact and asked whether we want them in the same class or not. Once they are put into classes in YR they stay the same through to Y6. Both boys are very outgoing and confident so would thrive in separate classes or the same one. DH wants them in separate classes so they make their own friends and don't just stay together. At their current preschool they are in the same class and are very close so I think they should be together. We have to reply to school by next Friday because they need to sort out classes for taster/induction meetings in June. What would you do?

Separate, every time for twins. So important that they have their own identity and opportunities whilst growing up

As a teacher I would strongly recommend separate classes if it is all through to year 6. Being together is often nice in KS1, but can be more challenging as they get older. Ime, it is great for them to have their own individual space.

Mine went to different schools! Boy and girl. Are yours identical?

If they are identical or definitely look like siblings then separate classes.

Another vote for separate classes from me. I have twins and was also a primary teacher -I have never come across a situation in which twins benefit from being in the same class. It's so important that they have the chance to develop in their own time and way, out of each other's shadow.

My non ID boys were placed in different classes in year 1. We were railroaded into it by the school, which pissed me off.
Now (they're 16) I can see it was best for them. They flourished out of the shadow of each other.
What I would say is one size does not fit all, some will excel, some may not. Everybody has an opinion on schooling twins and it's hard when educators tell you they know best, yet your parent instinct also knows best.
You know your children best, although it's hard aged 4, there's no cystal ball.
All I can say is, it was good for us. Hard when two class plays clashed, one parent attended each one, but the right move.

I just want to add mine are 16 now and went to different secondary schools in different LAs. They have the choice to go to the same 6th form, but don't want to. They are great friends, it's just they are very happy doing their own thing, which I think is healthy .

There’s seven sets of twins in my LO’s year ( 2 year group class. Only one set were in separate classes and they’ve been moved together now.
I think it maybe can be tricky in separate classes with parent involved class activities, having to choose one or the other or flit between the two classes.

Separate classes for definite if they stay in that class for their entire time at the school.

As a teacher and a twin I've seen way too many experiences of 1 twin being the more dominant presence and this unintentionally leading to their sibling not having their own friends or developing their own identity and being seen as just X's twin brother/sister.

Different classes for sure! For all the reasons above.

Although, the twins I know and have taught have often been together in reception and then separated from year 1 onwards. Not possible if your school has the same classes throughout primary though.

My friend’s twins (who I’ve known since birth) have thrived being separated. One twin was always in the shadow of the more dominant sibling, throughout toddlerhood and preschool. Now, they have different friends and different personal strengths. My friend has been adamant that they shouldn’t both be invited to birthday parties because they’re twins, for example, and should just go when invited by their own friends. It’s worked well for them.

Separate classes. Everyone can see them as individuals not just one of a pair. ( a bit crap perhaps but true)

100% separate

Separate for sure. We moved school at Y3 to enable this.

We have done both. I recommend separate.

Our school has a policy of separate classes for twins and I think it works out for the best.

As a teacher, I would absolutely say always separate.

We had experience of both ways. Apart in reception. Together in Y1 & 2. They were so much happier when they were apart that we ended up changing school to ensure that they were in separate classes from then on.

I guess it does depend on their personality. Mine were very, very competitive and had poor social skills (later had an ASC diagnosis) and what happened when they were in the same class is that they were treated as the same entity (the twins) rather than independently as A and B. They also were the same academic ability & they tended to group the children on tables of similar academic ability in the school they attended so not only were they in the same class they were on the same table. After some discussion they did at least change them to different tables.

Separate is much better. I had four twins in my class last year. Well, five I suppose. Three where their twin was in the other year two class and one set who were both in mine. Their parents wanted them together but the other children absolutely treated them as one. The other 'split' twins had plenty of opportunity to see their sibling. At playtimes and lessons where we mixed the classes.

Separate, they need to make their own friendships, have space to make mistakes, develop their own identity, be their own star of the week etc. There will be playtime and lunchtimes to see each other if they need to. There will be enough people who always call them “ the twins” , let them be x and y in school.

@IggyAce Our school has a policy of separate classes for twins and I think it works out for the best. unless you have twins or are a twin yourself your opinion is not valid. Also your policy goes against twins trust guidance.

Separate. Especially if they're same sex and even more so if they're identical.

Twins, particular ID twins have enough challenges with identity and co-dependency. I was much happier when my twin and I were split up when we moved cities and if I had twins I would want the same.

the feedback here from twins and parents of twins is saying exactly the same thing! Wind your neck in.

Really interesting to read these views. My twins are not school age yet but I had planned to keep them together (one is shy and relies on the other)…this thread is making me reconsider.

SAME CLASS

Or everytime you have a class party or money collection etc you’ll have to do it twice. I know a mum who is needed to volunteer in one twin’s class, so the other twin complained and now she’s doing twice the volunteering she would have been to make it fair 🤣🤦‍♀️😬

SAME CLASS

Separate.

I taught twins where one was very shy and significantly less able to cope in class compared to his confident twin.
The shy one retreated even further into himself and convinced himself it was never worth trying because twin was always better than him.
The confident twin spent far too much time worrying about the other in class.