Does class gender balance matter?

[StandoutMop]

Youngest dd has just started reception. The year group, and so each individual class, is two-thirds boys. So in dd class there are 20 boys and 10 girls.

Anyone experienced this as a parent or teacher? The school don't change classes around, so this is it for 7 years (plus, no more girls to add to class anyway). Should I be worried about this impacting on dd's experience at school?

2 form entry at our school and girls have always been the minority. This has got worse as they have progressed through the school as lots of girls have left and been replaced by boys.

So dd is in a class with 7 girls (was 6!) and 17 boys. IMO it's not ideal as there are a few very strong characters in the girls and there have been lots of friendship issues. Dd was tearful about going back to school because she's concerned that she only has 2 friends in her class.

Dd1 has been in a girl heavy 2:1 class. It has been fine - going into yr6 and although I think that there are a few groups of girls who have some playground politics, dd just avoids trouble and has a lovely group of 6-7 friends.

Dd2 was in a class with the opposite ratio. Lots of boys, quite disruptive, poor teachers who couldn't control them. They drove each teacher that they had to leave the school, some mid year. The girls were fine - she didn't get on with all of them but there were enough until they started to leave. In the end there were a few incidents and also progress issues. She left towards the end of yr3 and moved to another school. Just going into yr4, there are more girls than boys, the boys are calmer and the new school have a firmer hand on behaviour.

I don't think that it is just to do with gender. I think that a good teacher who puts in good boundaries and can motivate and excite the class will do well whatever the mix. Unfortunately in dd2's situation 4 yrs with disruptive boys (and I am sure it could have been girls if it were different girls) and poor or inexperienced teachers was a perfect storm. If you have confidence in the school and the teachers then it should be fine.

I'm lucky then, as I have lots of confidence in the school and teacher. Thank you for sharing experiences, its been reassuring to read them, as basically I think class dynamics are the main possible issue and personalities and teacher seem like they will influence this as much as gender.

Weirdly, friend who works in local press school tells me their pre school year this year is 6 girls to every boy! So looks like the imbalance will switch around for next year's reception.