Schoolgate groups - age divides?

[MotherLanded]

DC has just started primary school and I'm getting my head around how everything works. One thing I'm wondering about is how things work when it comes to socialising with other mothers.

There seems to be a mix of ages: some mothers are in their early 30s, others more towards late 40s/early 50s. What have people's experiences been when it comes to how social groups form? Does everyone mix happily or do groups start to form based on age? Or do the children just make friends and the mothers follow suit?

The children make friends.

The mums talk to people they already know, talk to everyone; talk to people who they find useful, or run in and out and don't talk to anyone.
They form friendships based on common interests; I've not noticed that age is a particularly factor.
They also get to know the mums of some of their DC's friends at playdates and parties. This may or may not progress to an actual friendship.
Some mums are friendly and some are not. Some schools seem to encourage socialisation and some do not. Do not assume that you will make any friends at all. Merely having a child the same age is not really a strong basis for a lasting friendship.

You’re all adults, not school kids. Of course there is no age divide - you just naturally mix, mainly based on your child’s class and friendships. PTA volunteering is very good too for socialising

DD is 20 now and I still regularly meet with about 5 of the other primary school mums.

I think there are other factors rather than age; we have a lot of Spanish families and they are all quite friendly. There's also another group of us who have similar professional backgrounds who are quite friendly. On the whole though, everyone mixes pretty well.

I would also add that we are very mixed and always have a mixture of parents. I might be more friendly with a dad or my DH be more friendly with a mum. There's not really much of a sex divide (not least as we also have same-sex parents)

We have an age divide by default as people tend to divide on socioeconomic lines

I'm friendly with lots of people except the ones with face tattoos , but the ones who I go out with are from a similar background to me