3 children with the same name reception class - would you be annoyed?

[Twozealotmorethan1]

My son is due to start reception in September. It's a large school with a 3 class intake per year. We got class lists through this week and I was surprised to see that there girls with the same name have been put in the same class rather than spread between the three. They are the only three girls in the year with that name and the name is relatively common around here, but not overly so (for what difference that makes). For the purposes of this post, let's say they are called Sophie. Aside from not making it easy for the class teacher of that class, I think it's quite unfair on the girls, especially as in this school, unlike some others I've heard about, the classes stay unchanged throughout the primary school and so these children will be together until age 11 at least.
I can't help think that it's inevitable that the girls will become known as Sophie P / Sophie E etc according to their surnames and may even be more likely to attract unkind nicknames as they get older e.g. 'Big' Sophie, 'Fat' Sophie etc.
I realise it's not always possible to avoid having more than one child with the same first name in a class and I know various factors are taken into account when setting class groups but I can't help think that in a school with three class entry this could have easily been avoided? I would be a bit irritated if I was one of their parents. I have a younger child who will go to the school too in due course and am tempted to feed back to the school politely that I don't think this approach is helpful. What do you think?

[BraveBear]

Well this is what happens when a few names become very popular. You see it on the baby names board, the same dozen girls names coming up over and over. If you go for anything on the top 5 you can feasibly expect your child to be known by an initial throughout school. I'd be more concerned for the teachers who learn to tell them apart quickly!

[JustCallMeKate]

I had no idea that HTs (head teachers?) did the class lists? Thought it would be below their pay grades

Well now you know one that does. 🙄

[Ohyesiam]

This is so none of your business op.
I would save your "feedback" for when your child needs you, if you already have a background of being known as a busybody ( which is somewhere between likely and inevitable), your genuine concerns will be taken much less seriously.
To give you a bit of insight, volunteer at the school and see what a massive undertaking it is to teach the new national curriculum, provide for all the special needs which in many UK primaries is a third of any class, continually assess , record and reassess each child, and provide additional resources for the many children not progressing, demonstrate continual professions development, develop schemes of work, plan and mark, provide pastoral care, and so much more.

[SnickersWasAHorse]

This is utterly none of your business. I don't see how you can think this is anything to do with you.

Whenever I have been involved in mixing classes we tend to split it up by saying 'child x and child y need to stay together, child a and child b need to be apart, child 1 and child 2 are cousins, the twins need to be split/stay together' and so on. You also think about friendships, balance of boys and girls, balance of behaviours, balance of ability etc. Names are at the bottom of the list.

[TragicallyUnbeyachted]

I did get mildly surprised when my DCs' school put two boys with very similar names (of the same order of similarity as Lucas Carter and Lucas Carson) in the same class (plus there was a Luke Something in that class as well) but it didn't seem to cause any problems (and I can see that, actually, it can be helpful -- e.g. anything with "Lucas" on it needs to be directed to that class and can then be claimed by the relevant child).

But complaining to the school -- no.

My mother had six girls with the same first name as her in her class...

[bunningsbunny]

Ds1 was one of 3 with his name and as his surname starts with an S he got used to callibg himself LittleBunny S.

The next year he wasn't with any of the other LittleBunnys but he still called himself LB S. I ended up having a very surreal conversation with his teacher who was worried because she had noticed he kept referring to himself in the plural. Eventually managed to convince her that he really didn't think of himself as LittleBunnies but was just putting the S there out of habit when labelling his work... Wouldn't have been an issue with any other letter to start his surname and I thought she was joking to start withbut seems she was serious

[OhMrBadger]

This is the exact scenario I thought about when my DSis and DBIL were congratulating themselves on picking the no.1 most common name for my DNephew!

I have 3 Harrys in my class at school. I did have 4 but one left. Each of the Harrys have their own unique, amazing personalities. It's only a problem when it comes to letters going home, party invites etc.

I would be stunned if a parent (who wasn't a Harry Parent) questioned the Harry situation. I would suggest that you simply concentrate on your child starting reception and be relieved that you didn't just go for the easy option name-wise!

[RustyBear]

We had four Harrys in a class once, who also formed a club, and wrote to Prince Harry to ask if he'd like to join their club. I believe he answered, though I never heard what he said.

[Catbot]

I have to call my son by his full name to get his attention . There are three with his name in the same class. They are all good friends and often play together outside of school. I think it is lovely.

[headinhands]

It's a total non issue. I work in a school. They just get known as first name and surname initial. Works fine.

[Whatmusiccandoforchildren]

This is a funny thread :)

Trying to think what else I could give feedback on now....

[BlackeyedSusan]

they tend to get known as sophie smith, sophie brown and sophie jones.

oh and there are definitely combinations of children that should not be together. oh yes.

ds has many of his first name in the school. they are known by surnames.

[AllPizzasGreatAndSmall]

I had no idea that HTs (head teachers?) did the class lists? Thought it would be below their pay grade.

In my school the three reception classes are grouped by age but when they are mixed for year one, or in subsequent years, the head always has to check and approve the new classes.

[WorraLiberty]

I went to a small Catholic primary with one class in every year.

Lots of Irish families.

Every class had at least 3 Marys - standard.

[Twozealotmorethan1]

Ohyesiam - I do know some of what schools have to deal with, having lots of family and friends who work in schools in both teaching and non-teaching roles. A few have often told me that they find it hard / annoying when there are children with the same name in their classes. I just thought that given the three class entry at this school it would be something that could be avoided, to help both the teachers and the children sharing the name. Obviously not.

To repeat for other recent posters, the classes don't change each year at this school, unlike at some others.

I assure you all I'm not an 'insufferable busy body with too much time on my hands' (far from it, with two under 5 and another on the way, and I won't be rushing off to wrestle leadership or the PTA from the incumbent...).

As it's my 'PFB' going to reception I September, I have no idea what being 'that parent' is though. I'm sure it depends depending on the definer so I won't worry too much about it. Suffice to say I'm not a trouble maker. Was just asking for views on my instinctive response to this situation.

Thanks all!

[BlackeyedSusan]

his teacher has shortened his name, when I refer to him as full name at school. one of the others is short name too. maybe it makes it easy to know which is which. maybe they asked him which name he preferred.

[mrz]

In all the schools I've worked in the head has taken advice from staff (and feeder settings) but has made the final decisions about class organisation.

[NC4now]

I was one of three Rachels at work for a while. Two of us had the same initial too. It never caused any problems.

[NotYoda]

And this is the problem....instinctive views about things you've not thought through sufficiently, and a mistrust and inclination to criticise those whose experience does enable them to decide school matters.

[Imaystillbedrunk]

My son loves the fact that someone else in his class shares his name. Completely used to people calling him first name and initial. Alway makes me smile when he full names himself on my mother's day/birthday card.

[Willow2017]

Out of all the criteria for organising classes I really doubt first names are high on the list.
Absolutely none of your business op it doesn't affect your child one bit. And won't affect the 'Sophies' either.

Can't help but remember 'The Four Marys' stories in the magazine I uaed to get as a child 😀

[bbpp]

My best friend and a close friend shared my name at school, I wouldn't be happy if we were split up just because of that!

I really don't see the big deal some people have with shared named. Name A and Name B was only used for birthday invites, being called on the register/ for awards etc. to ensure it went to the right person. Otherwise, just Name was fine.

[GoingRogue]

I think you've been given a hard time on here OP. If your son hasn't started reception yet, and I'm guessing he's your eldest, then how on earth would you know how schools are run? I'm inquisitive and like to give feedback too, so would probably mention it in passing to a teacher if I hadn't read this thread. My eldest is in Yr1 and I had no idea about how classes are assembled until five minutes ago.

Oh, and as for leaving the teachers to run the school as that's what they're paid to do, what about parent-teacher relationships and working together to get the best for the children? I think too many women are scared to talk to school staff these days for fear of being labelled "THAT parent" (and yes, yes I am on the PTA...not that there is any T in ours).

Good luck in Sept OP.

[GreatWhites]

I think OP's been given a hard time too.

We would make an effort to split up the Sophies. However, sometimes it's just not possible. It's not too much of a bother, really.

[neversleepagain]

I am a secondary school teacher and I had 5 Joseph's in my year 7 form a few years ago. I survived and so did all 5 Joseph's.