Mixed ability groups - thoughts for able child?

[Cat98]

Ds is very able. His school used to use ability groupings but ds was coming home saying they're not in groups any more. His teacher spoke to us and said they were moving towards working in mixed ability groups.
How will this work? Does anyone have any experience? I'm sure there are areas where this wikk benefit him, I'm just hoping he will continue to be challenged.

Why wouldn't he be challenged?

It depends hugely on the teacher I think. Some teachers will happily leave the brighter children to help the others learn which is fine if the brighter children don't mind and are still being stretched but when a child is coming home complaining that they spent most of the lesson helping the others do their work then all that child has learned is that they are able to do stuff the others can't. they haven't actually learned any maths or whatever it is and rather than sit and do their work they have constantly been interrupted with questions.

Some teachers will do it extremely well, others erm won't.

Cat98...it's best to speak to your ds's teacher..ask her how it will work and how they meet individual needs within a mixed group setting. He/she will be happy to explain and they'll be able to tell you the specifics about how they organise it. No decent teacher would mind being asked
:)

Thanks. It's easy to assume he might not be challenged mrz as I'm thinking that If they're working in a group presumably they'll have a set task to do together. So if the others are working at a different level how would he be doing things that challenge him as the others wouldn't be able to do them?
Much like periwinkle suggests might happen.
Though hopefully there will be a plan for this, in fact I'm sure there must be so I will ask his teacher, she's approachable. I have read in the past that mixed ability groups work well for most children apart from the most able, so that's my concern. No problem though I will ask, if you think she won't mind!

no I seriously don't think she will mind you asking. If you go in saying 'this is a rubbish idea' then she might but I can't see you doing that.

I think it could work very well if the teacher knows what they are doing and plans things to make sure all the children are stretched. My daughter gets very frustrated with having to help others all the time, it distracts her so she says stops her doing her work to the best of her ability (and I should add that this is IN ABILITY groups because she is above most of the others in her group!)

My mum used to call them social groups when she was teaching rather than mixed ability, social is a nicer name IMO.

DC primary had sets for math but had mixed ability for English & everything else from about yr4. I think that worked well. Able kids tend to push themselves plenty.

Why would he be working in a group?

Even in ability grouping there can be a huge spread and this is when capping is more likely to occur IMHE - work is set for the group in mixed ability classes work can be easily aimed at the individual needs of a child. Just because a child sits at a table with children of different abilities it would be wrong to assume they are all doing the same work.

I thought they usually worked in small groups in primary mrz. But perhaps not!
I have just looked at the other thread about this and there does appear to be a question mark over mixed ability groupings for able children. Though I can accept that it is a better overall method for the majority of children, understandably I want to ensure its best for ds too.
As others say though, talking to the teacher sounds like the best way forward. Thanks everyone