what criteria do they use to divide Reception classes into new Y1 classes?

[imaginaryfriend]

Dd will be going into Y1 later this year. Currently there are two Reception classes collected together according to age - the younger kids are in the January intake class, dd's an October birthday so started last September.

I know that they will now mix the two classes together and divide them again but I wondered if anyone had any insight into how they decide to divide them up? Will the mix the ages and abilities together and make two roughly equal classes?

Dd's Reception class was already mixed before she went into Yr1 (the classes stayed the same)

But it was more a mix of ages, gender and whether English was a first or second language. It only became more apparent re the abilities later on in the year.

So do they tend to put the non-English speakers all into the same class? Or half and half? Do they split up groups of friends?

I imagine that they will try and keep healthy inclusive friendship groups intact, but to split up friends only where their behaviour when together is disruptive or all-consuming. For example, when dd went to primary school, the pre-school were keen for her not to be in the same class as her best best friend as they felt the friendship was too all-consuming and exclusive. IN the end they went to different schools.

Hi IF -
I asked a similar question a few weeks ago, and some of the replies may be helpful to you:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=43&threadid=525500#10689007

Thanks Earlybird.

ability and independence at dds school

So there's one class of 'higher ability' and one of 'lower ability'? Or mixed equally?

year one is split between reception (class one) and year two (class 2)

Varies from school to school.

Dd2's school have the September starters (older kids) in one class and the January (younger) kids in another, and keep it that way right through the school. Some schools mix the classes fairly randomly from the start.

Another neighbouring school keeps them in age-based classes until Y3 and then mixes them about to get a range of abilities and temperaments in each class.

Some schools mix them up most years, particularly if they have some mixed-age classes. Why don't you ask the teacher what criteria they use?

I probably will ask the teacher, just thought I'd ask here first as she's always so busy. And a little unapproachable! I know they do mix the classes up and split them again but I didn't know according to what criteria.

I would imagine that they would try to get an even spread of ability in both classes.They will nurture friendships if they think they are a good thing. There are children that they will separate-for the sanity of the teacher!.

I agree with AbbeyA. And then they will tell you it's random so you don't have a go at them!

That made me laugh, savoycabbage-I think you are right there!

Actually I phoned the reception at school to as them about their policy and the Headmaster picked up the phone! So I got to ask him. He said they split the classes so that there's an even mix of age, sex, ability, so that they can monitor the levels equally across the years. I asked about friends and he said considerations for keeping friends is secondary to the other criteria but that they do separate friends if they seem to be 'counterproductive' to the running of the class.

Who can say? Depends on head IME

DS1 was in same class all through infants.

DD (same school, different teacher) was in age class in FS2 and then mixed up and mixed again. There are only 2 children who have been with her all 3 years! (out of 60).

Not done on ability tho (that would be a bad idea - a bit unfair on the less able class).

Think our head does it based on a) who she'd like to split up (eg if they distract each other) and b) who has begged to be together (but they don't always get their wish (see a)