Mixed-year classes - should it be done on age or ability?

[ceebeegeebies]

DS1 is a July baby so one of the youngest in his class - when he moved into Yr1, he was moved into the straight Yr1 class rather than the mixed yr 1/2 class. The time has come again to find out which class he is to go into next year - the mixed yr 1/2 (as part of the yr 2 contingent) or the yr2 class.

Without sounding arrogant/PFB about it, I am fairly sure he is amongst the most able children in his current class (top reader, in the top group for maths and writing) so I really want him to go into the yr2 class so he is working with others of a similar/higher level and be challenged. However, I am worried that he will automatically be put in the yr1/2 class as he is one of the youngest but I feel this would not provide him with the stimulation/challenge that he needs (like most boys, he can be lazy if not pushed).

Any teachers etc around who can explain how it works/should work?

Bump - anyone?

i'm not a teacher, but at dd1's school, the youngest child in reception is one of a handful of YR children in a mixed YR/Y1 class. apparently the classes are arranged by ability, temperament, and also friendship group.

Thank you

I really hope it is done on ability rather than age!

If it is done on ability the maturity of the younger children needs to be considered and some thought given to how they will cope.

I would say divide on optimal social mix, and remix the children if needed for select subjects where they might need to be streamed. That is what DC school seems to do.

Our school are mixed classes that change most years depending on intake and it is strictly age based / no exceptions for anyone

DD's school sound like your OP
They have 45 intake and in Y1 the youngest 30 make straight year class, eldest 15 are mix Y1/2.
Then they split the 45 as oldest 30 in Y2 with youngest 15 being the mixed Y1/2 and so on.
Always done on age only, never any other reason.
My DD is summer born so I do share your worries. But in a school like that, teachers have to be excellent at differentiation (one would sincerely hope so!)

Ours is strictly age based with "special exceptions" only ie twins that they want in different classes etc.

Ds3 is going to be the oldest P2 in the 1/2 composite next year. He is one of the most able in his current class and I worry he won't be stretched. His present teacher says they will all be working at their own level anyway so it won't matter. I wish I had her confidence.

Thanks for the responses

Shattered yes, that is exactly like DS1's school (same numbers and everything!) I am led to believe that they used to do it on age but last year was the first year they took other things, such as maturity and ability, into account and admittedly there were a couple of June/July-born Reception children that did go into the Yr1/2 class. However, I have no idea if they will do the same again this year

Jubilee yes, the school give the usual spiel about them being challenged on an individual basis but I haven't seen much evidence of that this year - I think DS1 could have been pushed a bit more - so you can see why I am a bit dubious about what would happen if he ends up in yr1/2 next year.

Doing it strictly on age means the school can avoid the (inevitable) arguments about which children have more 'ability'. No subjectivity over age.

Ours is a 45 intake but they split the classes based on ability. DS has a mid June birthday and was in the mixed y1/2 class last yr and the y2 class this yr. We'll see what happens for next year for the y3/4. I'm actually hoping that he will be in the y3 and not the mixed class as he has AS and socially struggles.

It looks like there is no 'one way' of doing it - I did wonder if there were some education guidelines that suggest the best way to do it rather than leave it to the school but obviously there is not.

Our school does a whole big mix thing!

They have 30 odd Yr1 kids, the same number of Yr 2. So they make 3 smaller classes which are equal sizes - and seem to have no age (DS is Aug Yr1 and in with a September Yr2) Or ability distinction.

However, they only use these classes for part of the day. For Literacy, Numeracy and Phonics they are in "sets". There is a Yr2 set, a Year 1/2 set and a Yr1 set. The Year 1/2 set goes on the ability of the majority of the class - so some years it can be almost the same as the Yr2 group, other years go at almost the same level as the Yr1 group. There are still only 25-30 in each class max. They can also be in 1 set for literacy and a completely different one for Numeracy (so in Mixed class for one and Yr2 class for another)

It seems to work well. DS1 has excelled in academic subject as well as social skills from mixing with a wider ranged peer group.