KS2 - 31 in class what can I do?

[Zingy123]

My children have both come home and said they have a new starter in their classes (siblings started together). This now takes both of them to 31 in each class. Is this allowed? We have not been told about it officially - should we have been? They both have challenging children in their classes without much TA support and I feel this is a step too far.

Yes, over 30 is allowed in KS2.

DS has 34 in his class (he's in year 4). From year 3 upwards there are no fixed class sizes (apart from how many will actually fit). I wouldn't expect to be told if new children started tbh.

Not sure why you think you should have been informed.
think they can go over 30 in KS2
Have you considered voicing your concerns about lack of TA support to the Head?

It's perfectly legal to have over 30 in a KS2 class (have seen a head put 35 "challenging" children in a KS2 class once to bully a teacher out!)
However, as someone who's gone from 30 down to 25 in a new school ,it really does make a difference.
You can't do much about that, but maybe talk to the Head about TA support?

I've always thought at KS2 that the class size could go over 30 providing the overall number on the school roll didn't exceed the maximum. E.g. if one class only had 28 then another class could take 32 or two classes could take 31 each.

Schools don't accept/turn down applications for places, it is down to County. DD had 36 in her Y4 class. Far from ideal but apart from moving them, not much you can do unfortunately.

Thanks all I thought it was a maximum of 30 regardless. It is a Catholic school so I assume they do their own admissions. Will speak to the head about TA support as it does cause problems.

There is no upper limit for numbers in KS2 and I really can't imagine a head employing a TA just because there is one extra pupil due to cost.

AS a catholic school they are their own admission authority. The rules are that in infants the class size is limited to 30 pupils per school teacher. Your school would appear to have 2 classes per year group so they can have 60 in the 2 classes in infant classes if they have 2 school teachers. Each school has a published admission number. Under old admission code arrangements it was such that as a school you should not go beyond your PAN for the year group. However the new admission code 2012 in effect allows the school to admit over PAN mid year. So whilst it may appear to you to be unfair there is absolutely nothing to stop the school doing it and nothing to ensure that further staff are recruited.

My ds's class had 36 for a few months last year and 35 as standard. I'd be very chuffed with 31

34 in my class of Y6, if it is unbearable for you.then you will have to move your children to a different school. The decision to accept extra children doesn't involve aprents, so no. They really didn't need to tell you.

Yerch, sticky keys!

Perfectly legal. There are no class size restrictions for key stage 2 and the class restrictions have been relaxed for key stage 1.

I'd have loved for my DC to have been in a class of 31 in KS1 never mind KS2!

I had 38 in my class one year. I never had under 33 in the ks2 class that I taught

I think provided everyone has a workspace and a seat, then it isn't much of a problem really. It's harder when you don't physically have the space for the children.

Why do you think you should have been told?

Because she's a customer and pays our wages and it isn't fair and what about the challenging children and it shouldn't be allowed...?

I had 38 too last year, Heavywheezing.

My DD spent yr 3 and 4 in a class of 39. We moved her at the end of yr 4 to a school that only has 25 in a class. DD really struggled with there only being 25 in her new class.

It's hard work labelle isn't it?

They split up 3 class and put them into 2. 38 reports etc. 10 sn.

But they were lovely.

Our classrooms are built for 30, so when my class went to 31 it caused all sorts of mayhem! The kid was lovely and a great addition to the class, but we needed to reorganise pretty much every aspect of the room!

Also, I had 31 reports to write...

I have never heard of any schools round here having more than 30. That's why I questioned it. When I say "challenging" I mean it. In my younger child's class is a child who injured a previous teacher who has had to take early retirement as a result. It is 2 form entry school and they seem to share a TA for 2 year groups so 4 classes.

I know you mean it, those of us who have children with additional needs are very aware of how they are viewed by parents, especially if their needs are challenging.
TA provision is very variable depending on the individual school, so perhaps you should shop around.