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Primary education

There will be 5 girls and 15 boys new in DD's reception class

63 replies

ninja · 01/07/2007 21:53

I can't help but be a little sad and worried. Should I be?

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elliott · 02/07/2007 10:18

a little at some of these posts. Replace boy by 'black' or, 'child with special needs' and perhaps you will see what I mean....

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bobsmum · 02/07/2007 10:20

Boys should be caged in the corner. Different species after all...

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Mrbatters · 02/07/2007 11:17

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bobsmum · 02/07/2007 12:06

ds had a similar problem in nursery with huge expectations shoved on him to sit still and make glittery pictures of fairies. I was called in a lot to be told he wouldn't play in the home corner with the washing machine and the dolls.

Surely any decent teacher will be well versed in strategies to teach both?

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Caz10 · 02/07/2007 12:16

well said mrbatters. A class with that kind of ratio has a whole realm of different issues to deal with, whether it be weighted to more boys or more girls. A good teacher and school will deal with it well, and will also respond to your (sensibly voiced!) concerns.

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Anchovy · 02/07/2007 12:21

We have an almost identical issue the other way - Ds is in a (Reception) class with 6 boys and 13 girls. I started a thread about this - check archives under Primary.

I do undertand your concerns, but to be honest, it has been absolutely fine.

Last year the Reception class only had 1 girl in it to start with but was up to 6 or 7 girls by the end of the year. Unless you are in the back of beyond, our experience in London has beent that the classes do seem to change quite a bit.

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Berries · 02/07/2007 13:08

DD2 was in a similar position, 9 girls, 21 boys. Frankly it didn't work, classes were very disrupted and teachers didn't cope well. I would be questioning them very closely about how they would handle it and if they haven't already worked out some strategies (extra sport for eg) then would keep a very careful eye.

Not saying that boys are a problem BTW, but they do respond to different methods of teaching. DDs teacher in y4 (the year she moved) had a policy of making whole class miss break times if they were disruptive in the class. Is it only me that sees that as a problem in a class top heavy with boys

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chipkid · 02/07/2007 13:35

The boys in ds's class behave like over-excited puppy dogs a lot of the time-they roll around on the floor grappling with each other, they seem to take over every space no matter how big and breaks are spent pulling each other all over the playground!

The girls in his class behave in a far more refined and compact manner!

teacher is fab though and treats the children as individuals. She is very calm and has a quiet commanding voice which is amazing to watch.

I agree the ratio is only a problem if the teacher struggles with it

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whiskersonkittens · 02/07/2007 18:28

My ds is in a similar situation - 5 girls and 9 boys. They definitley polarise and ne'er the twain shall meet. Ds the other day aked dh 'what girls were for' as they 'do not play any sensible games like the boys'

I am sure he will change his mind in a few years time

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Furball · 02/07/2007 18:36

10 girls 4 boys in ds year 1 class.

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tibni · 02/07/2007 18:50

9 girls / 20 boys in dd yr3 8 yrs old class. Most the time its fine, only problem is when the girls have a falling out as there are not enough girls to be able to have easy friendship changes!

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cat64 · 02/07/2007 19:34

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SoupDragon · 02/07/2007 19:38

"Not saying that boys are a problem BTW," Er, yes you are actually and in the same paragraph! "Is it only me that sees that as a problem in a class top heavy with boys"

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SparklePrincess · 02/07/2007 20:04

My dd started off in a reception class with only 3 girls (including dd) & 10 boys. This year there has been 6 girls in year one & 10 boys. TBH its not been great for her socially. Last year was fine, she palled up with another girl & had a good year. Unfortunately they fell out at the end of last year & dd has been pretty much n her own this year If I could do it again id send her to a larger school with bigger class sizes. If there are other options in your area id seriously look into them if I were you.

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christywhisty · 03/07/2007 21:21

In DS's class one mum said to the teacher(3 girls 14 boys) how are you going to manage all those boys. Teacher said the boys aren't the problem, it is the friendships amoung the girls ie a chance one will be left out.Thankfully more girls arrived at christmas and as I said previously it evened out more over the years.

It turned out the boy of the mum who sked the question was the class "terror" and still is in Year 6 because she sees all his bad behaviour as natural for "boys"
In even in reception the boys in DS's class were really bright and certainly didn't hold the girls back

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CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 03/07/2007 21:24

My dd starts nursery class at school in sept.She has been going to a pre-nursery session two mornings a week since last sept.

There are 24 boys and 4 girls. Its really noisy!!!Most of the other children seem quite babyish compared to my dd (shes 4 in Nov) and many are in pull ups and have dummys.We had an open evening last week and some of the mums asked if the children could have a nap in the afternoon.

My dd keeps saying "but they are all babies".

I know that some of the children are not 3 yet but my dd has always been very mature for her age. The teacher said that they mix the nursery class with the reception class and said my dd will probably be more in tune with the reception children.

I do worry about this .

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fryalot · 03/07/2007 21:26

dd1's friend was in a primary school class with 18 boys.

That was it, just the one girl and all the others were boys.

All the way through primary school.

She was very friendly with girls a year older or a year younger.

She coped fine though and is very happy at high school now.

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hotcrossbunny · 03/07/2007 21:26

Oh we're the same... 6 girls and 17 boys. I have a very girlie dd who lives in a pink world. We have had 2 visits so far and she has wandered around looking lost. I just hope she 'fits' somewhere - not necessarily a girls group... She says she doesn't like boys (except for her cousin) but I hope this changes her mind and that the teacher is capable of noticing their differing needs....

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CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 03/07/2007 21:48

I was afraid to say that on here but my little girl hates boys too. My sister has two little girls and most of friends have girls. But those that have boys are often invited around and have been since she was a baby,but she has never liked them.The only boy she ever liked was a sweet little boy at nursery who she was with from 6 months.He was very shy and she used to look after him.

But then I did not like boys when I was little.Thought they were all a bit silly.

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CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 03/07/2007 21:48

I was afraid to say that on here but my little girl hates boys too. My sister has two little girls and most of friends have girls. But those that have boys are often invited around and have been since she was a baby,but she has never liked them.The only boy she ever liked was a sweet little boy at nursery who she was with from 6 months.He was very shy and she used to look after him.

But then I did not like boys when I was little.Thought they were all a bit silly.

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ninja · 03/07/2007 22:06

Wow, I can't believe there are so many responses. I was kind of expecting everyone to say don't worry and I'd go away reassured (and vowing not to tell DH that he was right!) but I can see there may be issues. We are in the back of beyond so the intake is unlikely to change but I gather the reception teacher is good.
It is the social side I had concerns about as dd loves making friends with other girls, I was never girly but she most definitely is. I think I'll speak to the teacher when she goes for her visits next week. Another option is unlikely as all the schools are over subscribed (village with a lot of new houses).

Thanks for all your comments and experiences

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shellandjessica · 04/07/2007 23:06

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Butkin · 06/07/2007 16:46

Amazing stories about only 1 girl. We were surprised yesterday when we found out that there will be 24 boys and only 12 girls - split evenly between the two reception classes - when DD starts full time in September.

Definitely 2003 was a year for the boys!

As people have said lets hope that some little girls will miss out because of cliques.

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throckenholt · 06/07/2007 16:52

ds was in a class of 8 girls and 2 boys (the other boy has downs and although lovely is not on the same level).

Never seemed to bother him. Now a few have come and a few have gone and I think there are 7-8 girls and 3-4 boys.

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shellandjessica · 06/07/2007 23:45

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