Splitting the class for next year - can I object?

[lunchtimeconcert]

Private school, two form entry. Next year the class has been muddled so that half my son’s class are now with half the other class. The decision of which child where seems to be arbitrary. My son will be away from one of his friends but in with another. Unfortunately the worst boys (always in trouble, mess about in class) are also in his group.

Can I request my son is not in this class? It’s that bad that if we cannot move him we will move school. Will the school take any notice?

It's certainly worth voicing your concerns. I doubt very much the split is arbitrary though.

It's unlikely they'll take notice of your request, but they should take on board your concern.

There will usually be a lot of thought put into class shifts, and it may be better for your son than you fear.

I would wait and see what happens in the autumn, and address specific problems if they arise using the usual channels.

They will have a reason for the mix up. It's very common in state schools. It will either be for social or academic reasons or both. I'd trust the school, tbh.

DD3's year have apparently been kept together from year 3-6 (she joined last year) as the classes worked well. The school has announced that the year below are being mixed this year coming, so I suppose they must have some imbalances to correct.

No split is arbitrary. In a state school, it's likely they'd take no notice. Unsure if a private school would be different as you'd take your money with you if you left. Worth asking. I'd say be prepared to leave it you threaten it.

I wouldn’t threaten U.K. leave but would if we can’t move. It’s that bad 😕.

to not U.K.

They aren't going to take notice. It would have been done carefully with lots of different factors in place.

What sort of factors would be considered? My son and friend are bright, his friend probably the brightest in the class. The troublesome boys are the opposite, so it can’t be streaming.

In state school it's to try and balance the classes - so making sure the v bright ones aren't all on the same class, so any students with additional needs aren't all in the same class, being aware of children that don't work well together- talk too much or distract each other, being aware of any social issues, making sure each child has a friend...

It's a hard job. For example if you don't want to be in a class with a particular child and so do other parents- he can't be in a class on his own!

It can be about the balance of classes . Our primary classes mixed every year.

One parent who would complain about not getting what he dd wanted or not in the class mum thought she should be were routinely ignored .

One girl was moved as her friends were all in another class so moved .

I think it depends on your reason and the flexibility of the school.

It sounds like you want a school where all the bright, biddable, “nice” children are kept in one class so they can forge ahead, and all the less bright, “worst boys” are kept together.

Not only is this not good for the school or the “worst boys”, it’s also not good for your son or his friend (the brightest in the class).

There’s more to school than academic result, even if - especially if - you’re at the likes of Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s etc.

What everybody else said.
It won't have been 'arbitary', just 'not to your liking'.
Teachers put an incredible amount of thought into how classes are split when they mix classes up.

Well they’ve kept the core group of troublemakers together which seems a bit stupid if there was a plan.

The new class mix is unlikely to have been an arbitrary decision, they’ll probably have good reasons for their decisions.

Given how strongly you feel about it, I’d talk to them. They may refuse to change the classes, but at least they’d be aware of your concerns.

It won’t have been arbitrary.
It usually takes ages and is not unlike that puzzle where you have to get the chicken, the fox and the grain across the river.

It will absolutely have been based on how they think a class will work together. My DD’s are in private school and found out today. One is happy the other in floods at being split from a friend. However we have been here before and the school has always been right. With all due respect unless you teach in that class you are going on gossip and hearsay about this group of boys (i’m Sure you’ll claim it as fact but really unless you observe first hand it really isn’t) and the school isn’t thick - there will have been good reason for this group. A friend of mine teaches in a private school and he says one of the most amusing things around this time is watching parents complain, the school giving in and then the child being unhappy in the class they want them moved to - not funny really but maddening when parents think they know best as to how a school should be run, I would give it time - I am sure it will be fine. If the school can’t control behaviour in general then it doesn’t sound like a good school full stop,

With all due respect, you are the parent and have absolutely no idea of what the needs are of many of those "worse" boys. Within the class structure they may be raucous when you see them or hear about them but you don't know how they are benefitted or benefit others from integration with many different abilities in the class.

The teachers put a lot of thought into classes and what we, as parents, may find an odd mix actually works really well depending on the teacher allocated and how each child interacts.

Maybe talk to the school, get some reassurance and stop assuming your son needs to be away from these children. He will encounter all manner of people through life and being skilled at this from a young age is an incredibly valuable skill.

If you move him go a different school you won't be able to dictate who he goes into a class with there either. You could well go from the frying pan into the fire ...

Who has decided they are trouble makers?

Usuallyinthemiddle The school has a traffic light system that we can all see at pick up. It shows who the disobedient children are. Plus the teacher stands at the door and informs each parent of the day’s events. We can all hear!

Quite frankly that's none of your business and traffic light system or not it's not there for you to scrutinise. There could be all manner of underlying issues and things you are completely unaware of

Kick up a fuss if you wish, you will be seen as 'that parent' and if your son is in a class with one of his friends surely that's better than moving to a completely different school where he will have no friends to start.

It's an overreaction but I understand the fear of the unknown. Don't pass that onto your son, he may well love this new dynamic in a new class.

Are you sure they have kept all the trouble makers together? It would seem more likely to me that they would shuffle the classes purely to split them up.

Don’t be that parent. The school will have done it for good reason.

That traffic light system that ‘everyone can see’ sounds horrendous as an aside. I’d be furious if my child’s behaviour (good or bad) was displayed for all to see. Plus you cannot all be standing in the classroom whilst she fully debriefs what, 10-15 parents on their child’s behaviour that day. How very strange. Personally i’d be looking for a new school but not for the reasons you are thinking of - it sounds awful!!!

Mixing the children up was the best thing that ever happened to my daughter. Initially I was horrified as she was being split from most of her friends but honestly, it really has worked out for the best.

I would try it out before running to the hills. You need to trust in the school to which you are paying good money. It won’t have been done randomly and you will look like a parent who stamps their feet and expects to get what they want just because you are “paying for it”. Declaring you will leave schools if things aren’t changed makes me wonder if there are other things you aren’t happy about too.