Any positive experiences with Christian schools and mixed-age classes

[TMarieClara]

We have just learned we've been offered our third choice of primary school. We put this down as a bit of a punt – we're moving counties and only had a chance to see our two nearest schools to our new house. We didn't get these and instead got a smaller village school that is Christian and has two years per year (i.e. reception paired with pre-school, etc).

We're not Christian, so I feel a bit uncomfortable with the idea of a Christian school (which is probably ridiculous because I WENT to a Christian middle school myself! And of course the idea of Christian values etc is great).

I also just don't have any experience of mixed year entry, so it's daunting, but in principle, I can see how it can be a good thing?

The school also doesn't have any wrap around care or much in the way of extra curricular, so I'm feeling a bit deflated. Would love to hear positive experiences for either of these!

If the Ofsted inspection report is positive, progress and attainment are good and the class teacher is experienced in teaching a mixed age class, I would be ok with it.

In villages the schools are often "Christian" as the schools predate the state school system. How religious they are varies. Some is no more than RE lessons, others its full on prayers.

Mixed year classes... again varies. Its comes down too how good the teacher is at teaching at different levels.

However small schools can have advantages... bigger chance of being chosen for things for example.

You also have the right to withdraw your child from collective worship if you prefer.

My kids attended a Christian school as it was the local primary, all faiths and those with no faith are equally welcome, it really didn't matter at all.

The mixed class thing would bother me a bit, but my friend is a teacher at one and she says they work fine.

Yes, that's a good point about school size. Thank you! My daughter is a June birthday, so she'll be on the younger end of her year, which I think will help with mixed year but it does worry me that it is mixed right up to year 6, as that feels quite late.

That's good to know... Although perhaps wouldn't make me very popular.

Thanks, good to know re your teacher friend. I didn't even know they existed until now! Seems really odd but I guess that's how they make small classes work funding wise.

I attended a Catholic school with the two years in one class system. The school I'd attended before that didn't have the same system but for me there was honestly no difference between the two. I don't remember it causing any issues whatsoever.

Our school is a state CoE. There are no daily prayers, but there is a reflection assembly once a week which is tied to the church calendar. However it is always framed quite broadly. Easter and Xmas church services as you'd expect. They do RE but study a good number of religions, and as a school recognise and celebrate a number of festivals and holy weeks from non-Christian faiths. There is also excellent science provision and PHSE does not have any religion bent.

We also mixed classes - 3 x mixed class for years 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6. It works very well - they stream for maths which is great for both high achievers and those who need extra help. Excellent differentiation. The school works on a 2 year curriculum cycle so some students will study a topic in eg year 3 and others will study it in year 4 - same topic but outcomes and expectations are age appropriate. It builds good relationships and also encourages better socialisation - every 12 months half the class changes, which helps to prevent rigid friendship groups and also disrupts any negative dynamics that might be lurking.

My DC attended a CofE mixed year group school. (Well it was mixed year group until ds1 was in year 3 iirc)
Because of the size of the intake vs the max class size allowed they had one Yr R class, and one mixed yrR/yr1
Then all others were mixed as year1/2 yr3/4 and Yr 5/6
I also attended a mixed year group school.

It's fine. Neither positive nor negative imo. It just is.

I think small schools and mixed age year groups are great. The younger ones can look up to older ones, older ones get to be a mentor / role model, enriching experience for all. Though some schools poorly organise the mixed year groups, so I would ask about how they teach the year groups differently, is there any flexibility for ability. Longer play based learning for older ones. Everyone will know each other a bit better as it's small, more individual attention from teachers.
However I would be worried about it being Christian. They might end up with some very funny ideas about going to hell, heaven, that bible fables are real not a mythology.

I would defer the place, as a June baby I suspect it will be straight into Year 1 rather than Reception, but go on all the other waiting lists and hope a spot comes up before then so you don't have the swap schools when a space somewhere else does come up.
You'll be able to get preschool funding and/or home ed that year.

There are lots of small village c of e schools near us with mixed classes. They are generally very popular as people like the idea of a small school where their child won't get 'lost'. My own children are at a bigger c of e school - they do some church activities but also study other faiths, made Diwali lamps etc.
I think there are pros and cons to both - for lots of reasons I think the big school was the right choice for my older one particularly as the staff have more experience of teaching a diverse body of students which has benefited him. It also has more facilities than some of the very tiny schools eg an IT room and a music room. Some of the very small schools have a really small pool of children to choose from as friends (esp once the boys/girl division starts) which sounds a bit claustrophobic to me. But I l know lots of people whose children are very happy at smaller schools.

Many of the village schools round me are mixed age and Christian as very old and linked to the village church. It's very common in rural areas..we have had no issues with mixed aged classes. The teachers had taught them for years. Also our C of E primary appears to be having no religious impact on my DC as now yr 6 and still don't know the Easter story which is pretty much the most important event in the Christian calender !

Don't want to derail but why are people (not the OP) allowed to state that other people's faith is fables and mythology and "very odd ideas"? I find that really offensive. It also only seems to be Christianity that people feel it is appropriate to insult. its also quite ignorant given the amount of theological learning around the Bible.
And for the OP, your child will be fine. There are literally thousands of 'Christian' (I assume this is a C of E school) schools around the country, and of course people have positive experiences!

Thanks everyone. Really value these comments, especially about the mixed years. It's just a completely new thing to me. We're going to go see the school and hopefully that will put us at ease, and we can always go for a waiting list if not.

My DC go to a very small school with mixed years (YR, 1 & 2 in one class, Y3-6 in the other). It works really well. As others say the children all know one another, play together. Play-based learning is extended in the lower years, & the teachers are able to differentiate the curriculum to each year group & ability - stretching those that need it & supporting those who find it challenging. You'll probably find there is a higher Teacher/TA ration to students too which allows for more individualised support.
There are definite disadvantages to small schools - often not having access to large IT suites, big libraries etc, but at least in our case our school recognises those limitations & tries to migrate them.
Advantages at our school are swimming lessons every week from Yr3. Residentials from Yr3. Whole school trips as the entire school can fit on one coach. Everyone has a part (sometimes 2!) in plays, sports teams are made up of those who want to participate rather than just the best etc.
We have a strong PTA (I'm the chair) who provide support for various trips, organise fun events & activities etc
It was a completely new concept to me too - when my eldest was due to start - I'd been to a standard inner town primary with 2-3 class intake, so this was quite a shock & learning curve but actually it's fantastic for my DC.

Another one along to say that mine went to a primary with mixed year group classes all the way up to Y5/6. As others have said, if staff are used to it then it can work very well.

My children were in mixed year classes for much of their primary schools. My older one was in mixed year classes every year except reception and year 6. When the classes were well-balanced it was fine. However she was once one of only 6 year 1 children in an otherwise year 2 class and that was less successful. That was because:

1. the teacher's focus was on the majority of the year 2 children for most of the time, especially in the run-up to their SATs;

2. it wasn't a happy time for her socially. She has a summer birthday so was a lot younger than most of the class. She was also excluded from lots of parties! The year 2s tended only to invite the other year 2s to their parties. And most of the other year 1s tended to invite the whole of their class to parties so she missed out.

Every other year was fine, because the numbers were better balanced, and perhaps also because friendships were more established by then.

My DD is in a school with mixed classes (currently yr5/6) and it's fine. She is academically ahead of expectations, so doesn't seem to have hindered her. The school is linked to the local church and the reverand is a regular visitor, but we are not religious and it's not a problem. Advantages as pp said are that she always get a part in the play, sports team etc! However there are lots of clubs (breakfast, lunch and after school) run by teachers or volunteers, and wraparound care (paid for and run by external party). It is a school in a small village with a strong sense of community where generations have been to the same school. It's like a family (which has its good and bad sides!). PThere are lots of people willing to volunteer and help out and give the kids a great experience at school- which I think does make all the difference.