Mixed year classes and siblings

[Youaresoright]

We are considering moving, and DS1 will start school in Sept 2014, so primary schools are influencing where we will look.

Some of the schools I would consider are small and have mixed year groups (ie R+Y1, Y2+Y3 etc). DS1 and DS2 are one school year apart so in this situation would be in same class every other year.

Any experience as to whether this is a bad enough thing to discount an otherwise good school without looking into it further?

On the one hand I have this romantic notion that this would be wonderful for the DSs who are already close. But I am more academic than my older sister and this would have been her worst nightmare (though I don't think it would have been an issue until ages 9 &11 ish).

I know it is a similar situation for twins, but there are reasons why many parents put twins in different classes.

My DS and DD were once in that situation. It seemed ok at the time but later my DD asked to go to a different secondary school from her brother.

Makinganotherlist - thanks, did your DD say why?

DS was/is a total goody goody and DD also wanted to be known by her name rather than as DS's sister.
They are now at different schools and both doing very well.

I have twins and decided to put them in the same class. They are now in year 2 and I'm not sure if it was the right decision tbh (can list pros and cons for each). They are different academically and the school handle this well and I'm sure most small schools have to handle differentiation well. I'd be more concerned about friendships. Will there be enough children in the school for each to form their own friends? Or will one want to play with the same group as the other, but always feel slightly left out?

My two (now year 3 & 4) have been together every year apart from last year and it hasn't been a problem at all. The younger one actually missed her brother last year. i find out much more about their school day as they both want to be the one to tell me!
They have a similar friendship group but there are so many siblings/cousins in their small school this doesn't seem unusual.
I think it really helped the younger one settle into school nursery and then reception. Although they didn't have much to do with each other in the classroom at that age I think she was reassured having big brother there and already knowing his group of friends. Despite what ds might say, he does look out for his little sister.