what's this mixed class thing?

[MathsMadMummy]

that's it really - keep seeing reference to mixed Y1/2 classes and don't really understand it. if somebody could explain in layman's terms, that'd be good thanks

Don't think this is new as I know we had this briefly at my primary school (back in the eighties) which was on Merseyside and went through a phase of being very keen to try new things out (we also had a lot of strikes!). I didn't really like it (speaking as a pupil as we did it suddenly from the age of 7 and were the first year, so it was quite disruptive to our class that had done 3 years together already. It really didn't work for the older groups but am sure things have changed in the past 2 decades and that it is probably done differently now.

if it is generally accepted that an average yeargroup of 30 can span two key stages academically then estimate what two yeargroups would span...

30 kids over 4 keys stages - there is no way anyone can tell me this works for an older or more able child

socially and maturationally i think it sucks

But Posy, it doesn't double. There is lots of cross-over in the middle. When I've worked in mixed age classes, I tend to work on a rough rule of thumb that in a single age class, there are 3 ability groups (plus SEN and G&T. In a mixed age class, there are probably 4 ability groups (plus SEN and G&T).

I would disagree that it can't work for an older or more able child. It really does depend, however, on the skill of the teacher, and I appreciate that not all teachers are comfortable with, or confident enough to teach mixed age classes appropriately.

i think in tiny classes it could work

in 30+ classes no way

i think it is so far from ideal

I moved my childs school because of it