maximum class sizes in years 3, 4, 5 and 6

[getset]

Hi. I'm hoping to appeal against my child not getting into the junior school of my choice on the basis of prejudice, and that I believe the school could accommodate further pupils without detriment. The school takes 34 children in each class and there are four classes in each year. The school is spacious and has an outstanding Ofsted (including outstanding teaching and learning). Does anyone know whether there is a calculation to determine the maximum number of children in each class & school? Has anyone experienced junior school classes above 34? Finally, has anyone successfully appealed on the basis of prejudice? Any information would be most appreciated. Thanks.

In the past my children have been in a class of 36 in both year 3 and year 5!

It depends on how many children the class can physically accommodate but why would you want your child in a class of 35 and how can the allocation have been prejudiced when its done by computer program?

DS was in a class of 35 in year 3.

I know someone who teaches a class of 37. It's rubbish for everyone involved.

We're heading towards the bad old days of 40 in a class. Except the workload has increased so much it will be unmanageable...

Why would you want your children in such huge classes?

I would think the detriment of my child being in a class of 35 would outweight any potential benefits of the school tbh, unless there is some facility that the school provides that would be of special importance to your child and they wouldn't get anywhere else.

Not quite the same thing, but the DC's school has a variable intake and can take 3 or 4 classes. In the years where they have 3 classes, the HT will only allow the sum of children in the year to reach 100 (i.e. classes all contain 33-34 children), before the decision is taken to open an additional class (so it turns into 4 classes of 25). However this is evidently a school that has space for the extra class which it sounds like your case!

I've taught classes of 35-36 in year 3 and while I can honestly say I did my best for the kids, it was heart breaking to not be able to give them as much attention or focus as a class of 25 or 30. 4 or 5 more doesn't sound a lot but it is in terms of table space needed, amount of marking, space in the classroom etc. It also takes alot more the teacher time and energy to manage bigger classes.

I personally wouldn't want my child in a class of 35 unless there was always going to be a TA in the class too and there was a guarantee there was def enough space for the extra tables and chairs and that didn't mean other things like art resources or carpet space disappeared instead.

Are you sure that what this school offers is so much better than any alternatives that it's worth putting your child in a large class?

Thank you for explaining prejudice tiggy

Sadly my child is in a class of 35 in Y3. It should have been 34 due to the way they managed a September and January intake for Reception children before moving to single point entry, but there was an LEA mistake and they were forced to admit an extra child as well. Makes no difference really, it's still a disadvantage compared to all the years below him which are now 30 only. It's an extra table in the classroom, and that much less of the teacher's time. I agree with the poster above, we're moving towards 40 in a class with a supplementary unqualified teacher. The only reason we haven't moved house or applied for a different school is because our current school is still the second best in the city and still outstanding, getting incredible results given the circumstances, and there is full time TA cover for three and a half days a week.. Personally I think primary schools should be legally limited to 24 or 25 in a class, but that will never ever happen.

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all your responses. Very helpful indeed.

How bad are the alternative school choices (or what you've been offered instead)?
DC have never been in a class above 29 for Yrs3-6. 22 in DD's y6 class. 35+ sounds horrible.

Sadly my children have been in classes of 35 and it truly is appalling for everyone. I would never have willingly put my children in those classes and in fact pulled one out. This was also an ourstanding school...