criteria for selecting pupils for mixed year class

[Anomaly]

My son's school has three classes in KS1. One is year 1 pupils only, another is year 2 pupils only and a third is year 1/2 mixed together.

I'd appreciate it if people (especially any primary school teachers) could explain how they would choose students for the mixed class.

Our school does this regularly and they always say it is not down to ability but down to how mature the children are. My DD has been in a mixed class twice and its always been fine, hasnt impacted on her learning at all.

We balance maturity, ability, special needs and groupings that are either desirable or undesirable combinations of children.

DD went to a small village school and there were only 5 classes to cover 7 academic years. The classes were split strictly according to age, not ability.

In our school children were always selected on ability to cope. So taking into account maturity and ability. However, this year for KS2 they seem to have just mixed everyone up into 3 mixed aged classes. Almost all the children seem to have split up from their friends and the difference in ability is going to be mammoth in some classes.

Dd3 has been to 2 schools like this, her old school split strictly on age and her new one is age based but with consideration for space in open plan rooms for Dc's who use wheelchairs.

Ours is exactly how fallen explains. Am waiting to see which class DS gets for next year (he is going into Y3). Would be happy for him to be in the straight Y3 class due to his poor social skills as he has AS but who knows?!

I appreciate that in a mixed year class there is bound to be a range of abilities. I also realise that in a mixed year class the year 1 children will do year 1 work while the year 2 children do year 2 work.

How do teachers manage subjects like art or PE where the older children are almost certainly going to be better. Is it not hard for the younger children seeing those children do better?

You teach to the ability of the child, I have had Y1 doing Y2 maths work and vice versa. There are Y1 who are better at art and PE than Y2.
All children hav areas of strength that can be used to build their confidence in other areas. As long as the praise is regular and equally spread, and the message that it's fine to be proud of your own achievements without denigrating anyone else is consistent, then it's workable.

It's harder for the older children who see children a year below them out-performing them unless they get the chance to shine in something else. The younger children can tell themselves that they will be that able next year.