Is this normal, and even if it's not, should I be worried?

[PeachesMcLean]

DS is 6 and in Year 2, Class 3 (I'd thought two classes per year)

Turns out, Class 3 is a mix of Yr 1 and Yr 2 children.
Classes 1 and 2 are all Yr 1.
Class 3 is mixed.
Class 4 is Yr2.

So sometimes DS goes and joins Class 4 for lessons. Or the small group of Year 2 children in Class 3 sit at a separate table.

The only explanation seems to be that there was a massive drop in the birthrate in 2000/2001 so the years are hugely uneven.

I will talk to the teacher about this, but before I do, can I ask,is this normal to have mixed classes, and even if it's odd, should I be concerned????

It's very normal at ds1's school - he is in R, but there is an R/Yr1 clas, for the slightly older R intake, and slightly younger Yr 1 intake. They have roughly the same age gaps, all with a year. All born 2002.

Yes, it's normal. Ds1 is in year 2 and is in a mixed class, same as last year.

It's quite common when there is a low intake and from what i've heard it can work quite well. My friend is currently teavhing a mixed class of year 4,5 and 6 which i was at but apparently it's been going fine.

Talk to the teacher about your concerns though I'm sure they will be hapy to reasure you

yes it can be normal for them to do mixed classes and actually it is incredibly advantageous for the individual children if done properly

basically the children are working to their abilities within peer groups of similar level children .. and these classes are fluid owing to the nature of them .. it helps them build their confidence

Ds's school have one full and one mixed class in every year - so you get a yr1 class and a yr1/yr2 and so on up the school. Because the LEA won't allow the school to expand and go to two form entry. (This is the LEA that can't count and leaves between 60 and 90 11yos from my town without secondary school places every year. And people move here for the schools!)

Twiglett, now I realise why this bothers me. It makes some sense that as DS is on the younger end of his year, he should be with the older kids from the year below, but you don't realise that my child is a genius and should be with the older kids from his own year.

Now of course this sounds ridiculous but in his last school (we changed schools this summer) DS was in the top group for everything and doing very well, especially in maths. He's told me he's a bit bored of maths in his new school cos it's not hard enough. I'm a bit worried that they've made a judgement based on age and they don't realise he's a genius (followed by aforementioned wink at silly word).

Go and talk to the teacher. Let them know your concerns. They will either put your mind at rest or make you stamp your feet very hard and shout, "...but he's a genius!!"

my DS is also y2 and the school has a similar system where Y1 / Y2 combinations (anything key stage 1) are in all proportions. It works well for him as he is prob about to be diagnosed with dyslexia, so he and others can work with Y1 children and reinforce their literacy, he moves to do some subjects with Y2 only, like science which he's good at. It has taken me 3 years and 2 kids in the school before i sussed the system