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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Would you be happy about your child being in a class of only 5 pupils?

44 replies

electra · 04/04/2011 16:53

When she started in reception she was one of 17 which I thought was ideal.

Kids have just left and left and left and now she is one of only five. All her best friends have gone and although she gets on well with the remaining kids, I don't think she sees them as close friends.

Obviously being one of only five she gets lots of attention but I feel friendships are really important and I'm thinking of moving her to a bigger school where she there will be more diversity and also clubs etc for her to go to and expand her horizons.

I'm worried it'll be a bit of a culture shock though to go from 5 to say 30.

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Original poster

electra · 04/04/2011 16:53

Sorry, this is dd2, aged 7 I'm talking about.

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pgpg · 04/04/2011 16:56

Crumbs, that's certainly a big change in numbers! Why do you think this has happened? But, on the other hand she'll get to socialise at play time won't she? In terms of education, I think small numbers are generally good (and this small class size won't last long!). If the school is ok, I think it would be an odd decision to move her because the class size is too small.

MrsBrollyhook · 04/04/2011 16:58

No I'd not be happy with just 5 in the class. Attention is one thing, but I agree friendships are really important. Going to a class of 30 would be a bit of a culture shock, but probably a good time to move, ready for more clubs etc. in juniors and of course going from a tiny primary to secondary would be an even bigger shock!

Ragwort · 04/04/2011 17:01

No - we moved our child from a very small school (although there were more than 5 in a class) because of the lack of opportunites for friendships, diversity, sports, clubs etc etc. Best thing we ever did .

(I'd also want to know more about why so many children have moved on?)

Original poster

electra · 04/04/2011 17:03

People have left because they weren't happy with the school as far as I know. And some because their families moved to other areas of the country. I am happy with the school except for the tiny class size. They are going to cancel sports day this year

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FABsBackAndIsWell · 04/04/2011 17:05

Oh they shouldn't cancel sports day , that is a highlight the children look forward to ime.

squidgy12 · 04/04/2011 17:11

This reply has been deleted

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seeker · 04/04/2011 17:12

Absolutely not. Completely unworkable, IMHO.

How is the school remaining viable? What does the LEA say about it?

Pancakeflipper · 04/04/2011 17:18

No I wouldn't be happy unless secondary school had tiny classes too.

And things like sports day - can they not join with other classes for such events? These things are important in primary schools.

I'd also be a little concerned about friendships but you can counter this with outside of school activities.

Panzee · 04/04/2011 17:40

I'm surprised they've not combined the year group with another.

Jubato · 04/04/2011 18:09

One of five and they're canceling Sports Day... personally, I'd pull mine out. Is this a private school? If so, I'd probably move schools as I'd question if it's money not well spent...

One of five feels rather isolated and lonely.

dikkertjedap · 04/04/2011 18:19

No, I would absolutely not be happy. I don't think small classes are such a good thing. We moved dd from a class of 8 to another school where there are several classes in her year group, each class 25+. I think that children have much more chance to develop good social skills in larger classes, where there is more diversity.

UniS · 04/04/2011 19:26

I would be happy if it was our local school with a class of 5. I'd rather he was at a small local school we could walk to than a larger one I had to arrange transport to reach.

I'm surprised your DDs class hasn't been amalgamated with one up or down TBH. round here small village schools often have only 3-7 kids in a year group and 2 or 3 yr groups in one class. With only 45 pupils in a school there is lot of cross year group friendships, the local secondary seem to encourage the continuation of this by doing tutor groups( registration) in mixed age / year groups as well.

hocuspontas · 04/04/2011 19:32

Is reception full? If not I would be concerned about the viability of the school like seeker said. I think would speak to the HT about the future of the class but check out other schools as well. I am assuming this is a state school.

cluelessnchaos · 04/04/2011 19:39

My dd2 and ds are in a school of 28 kids, it's quite normal in the area dd is one of 5 girls and is quite happy they are very close now after 5 years together, ds however is one of 3 and is the only boy in his year and finds it much more difficult. Dd1 was One of 6 and made the transition up to big school very easily in fact the only thing she was fazed by was the physical size of the school. She is still very close to her year group from primary school.

COCKadoodledooo · 04/04/2011 19:39

Blimey I thought our school was tiddly with only 14 in each year group! We have 2 year groups per class (year 2 are on their own though). The kids have friendships across year groups and I love the way the older ones look out for the littlies. Everyone knows each others' name too.

So 12 kids have left that started in reception with your dd? What about other year groups? I'd not be unhappy with small classes per se, but that many leaving that quickly really doesn't sound right.

Incidentally, because we're a small school we're in partnership with other small schools in the area, and we all do sports day together. Great atmosphere!

Lonnie · 04/04/2011 20:50

My Son started his schooling in a class with 6 and it was amazing for him he loved school took to learning that way like a duck to water and when we later moved and he ended up in a class of 30 he coped fine and is still an eager for knowledge child.

I would only move if you are not happy with the school or your child is unhappy

ginmakesitallok · 04/04/2011 20:54

There were only 5 pupils in my primary school class - and 2 in my brothers (him and his bf luckily!) We both coped fine when we moved to secondary school. If your child is happy then why move her?

Skinit · 04/04/2011 20:58

My DD is in a class of 11 and I almost moved her...she's also year 2. I am so glad I never...she has friends and is happy so after creful thoug I dcided it wasn''t broken so need not be fixed.

The worry is that secondary wil be a big leap...but that's not here yet..why anicipate probems?

CaptainNancy · 04/04/2011 21:00

I think it depends very much on the personalities involved.
If your daughter is happy and comfortable with it then it is fine.

My brother and sister were in a school this size, and were very happy, and learnt well. If there had been any personality clashes though it would be very hard to deal with amongst just 5 children- for example if your DD fell out with the only other girl... we decided against one of our local schools on that basis (8 in a class, mainly boys).

Meita · 04/04/2011 21:03

I too was in a class of 6 in primary school. We shared a classroom with older or younger kids who were in similarly small classes. Loved it and found secondary school, where it was 'just us' 15 of the same age, quite boring in comparison.

I think the small class size alone would not make me consider changing schools. However given that so many have left, I'm thinking there might be other reasons which perhaps are more important.

LondonMother · 04/04/2011 21:59

If this is a private school, I'd get her out of there asap as it doesn't sound financially viable. If it's a small rural state school I'd also be concerned that it might be forced to close if numbers keep on dropping. It's clearly not that isolated geographically, as the other children have transferred to schools a bit further afield and you seem to expect to be able to do that too. That means the council could easily decide you can all travel a bit further.

Hulababy · 04/04/2011 22:03

What year is she in now?

How many children are in the other year groups?

A one off blip is not ideal but can occur if there are specific problems in a year group. If it is a trend it is definitely a real worry.

What are their finances like? Can you access any of them on the charities commission pages/website?

Ingles2 · 04/04/2011 22:06

I moved my boys to a much larger school when ds1's year group dropped to 9. Not enough options for friendship, sport etc. A school roll of less than 70 is too small imo.

Original poster

electra · 04/04/2011 22:08

Thanks for all your replies. It's a private school. Something isn't going well because there is no year 1 class and only six in the reception below that. I would not send her to the other main private school in our city because the ethos there is so different and I don't think it would suit her. I was thinking of changing her to a particular state school which I have heard puts a lot of emphasis on developing the individual and is big on creativity and performing arts which my dd loves. She is an outgoing child (but reasonably quiet with it) and popular - she makes friends easily. I feel that within a larger group she would be able to make stronger friendships and go to a school that has more of a community feel. The class she's in now feels so sad and empty and that's a shame because it was thriving when she was in reception.

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