Composite classes.

[Readytomakechanges]

In DD's school they operate composite classes from year 1.

There will be a year 1 class, a mixed year 1/2 class and a year 2 class.

As yet, the school have not decided which child will go in each class.

I've been scanning old threads to try to get reassurance that composite classes work well.

I've noticed a few comments that say that composite classes cannot hold more than 25 children. Is that true in England, or just Scotland?

Has anyone experienced composite classes? If so, what were the pros and cons?

Thank you.

I would always avoid, for my own children, a school where different children in the same year group have different class makeups, e.g. a school with a 20 PAN leaving to e.g. Year 1 children both in a R/Y1 class and a Y1/Y2 class, or a mixed class + an only that year group class. It is impossible to give the whole year group the same experience, and no split between classes is fully fair.

i have much less issue with the type of composite classes found in small schools, where the whole of 2 or more year groups are in a class together, except if the classes cross key stages. Cross key stages is difficult because of the change between key stages in terms of curriculum.

I didn't think about the SATS.

If DD is placed in the composite, I think I'll ask how they manage the transition from reception to year one and what they do with the year ones while the year twos are preparing for SATS.

Anything else I should be asking?

You could ask what the arrangements are for the teachers of the different classes plan together to ensure that the children in the same year group have the same experiences and challenges in the different classes.

I think that a lot depends on whether or not the school/teacher have experience in managing composite classes. At my dc's school they have composite classes from year 1 on and it works really well. All the teachers are used to these classes and the planning has all been done around mixed year classes. A few friends have had their dc end up in composite classes but, because it is a big year group, they have put the composite class in place to cope with numbers. It's not the normal way of teaching. There seem to have been loads of issues the schools didn't anticipate and the dc and parents have been unhappy. One teacher in particular didn't seem to know how to manage it but that was a reception/yr 1 class which was tricky (reception dc promised it would be all play based but year 1s needing more structure if that makes sense). Just ask lots of questions about how they are planning to manage that class and then make sure they stick to their promises.

Our school has a R/Y1, Y1/Y2, Y3/Y4 and Y5/ Y6 class. The only yeargroup that is split is Y1. This is by ability not age and closely monitored. In fact this year all Y1s have now moved to the Y1/Y2 class as they are ready for it (fortunately because of numbers still within the KS1 max nos). My girls are going through the system one in Y6 and one in Y3. So far its worked for us. Older DD is capable and the school has been very flexible with her so she has often worked above her yeargroup and even worked in the next class up when appropriate. I think the mixed year classes have encouraged this flexibility and the education has been very personal to their abilities.