Have you been told about next year's classes yet? Composites? Numbers? Teacher? Friends?

[teslagirl]

A small part of me want to type Grrr. There, I've done it. I mean, the schools KNOW what they're going to do already so WHY NOT TELL US! Whilst I'm aware the obvious unspoken reason is "To give you parents less time to launch complaints", the reality is we have a pretty good idea what they'll do so please don't keep us hanging on!

It affects both DSs. We have an Infants and on-site but different school Juniors arrangement.

Briefly, DS1 was amongst the first to be 'composited', Y3/4, as there are only 43 DCs in his year and the schools operate a 2 form entry (max 60-ish). He's now a '4' in a 3/4, having been a '3' in a 3/4 last year. But WHAT are they doing next year? Rumour Control speaks of 'pure' yr 5s- so there MUST be more incomers we don't know about. Yet, for some of us, we'd prefer an ongoing composite (Y5/6) as we don't LIKE many of DS1's year group contemporaries! My view of the potential success of next year will be seriously shaped by exactly which of his year group he will find himself with! The good and studious who will 'bring him along' or the.. Others?

DS2 is going into Juniors. We pretty much know they'll be composited, Y3/4. It's less of an issue EXCEPT- and I'm on dangerous ground here- there are just a couple of DSs whom I'm keen for DS2 NOT to be with but of course I won't know whom til July 4th! Also, it'd be handy, practically speaking, to be able to foster friendships between DS2 and his Y3 classmates over the summer IF I knew who they were!

WHY, really, all the secrecy? And guesswork? The 'pure yr 5' thing has been guessed at because a teacher told his class he was 'having a Yr 5 next year'. And none of the DCs have been asked to list their 2 best friends for class division purposes. WHY?

I went to a girl's grammar school too, and the one I went to taught me to be appreciative and grateful for the opportunity I was given, because there were bloody thousands of kids out there not given the same opportunity, who didn't deserve to be thrown on the scrap heap because their parents weren't as motivated, and they weren't as lucky, and the system didn't work their way. God, you really do sound nauseating.

You haven't answered any of the excellent points made by frogs, or cory, or any of these ladies, you're so obsessed that your DS deserves everything on a plate. Try teaching him to have some confidence and moral fibre and not be so easily led and maybe you wouldn't be so worried.

I went to an academically selective school too teslagirl (grammar although co-ed rather than all-girls)

So you're angry that your ds isn't able to access the same (as you see it ) education?

Welcome to England 2008.

One thing needs to be done in any case, and that is to work on your ds, to help him learn to sift the grain from the chaff. This is at least partially a skill that can be taught; just because being a leader is not his forte doesn't mean he has to follow blindly; he can be taught acceptable behaviour at home and learn to be friendly to people without having to imitate every last detail about them. This is a life skill everybody has to have.

I don't think my ds is a leader type either; he is very eager to please and in many ways sounds similar to yours. But he does know that bad language is hurtful and upsets people and that's enough for him. And we have frequently discussed why some children may behave in a way that is not considered acceptable at home. He knows that other families may have other rules, and that some children may be so hurt or upset that they can't stick to the rules at all, but he also knows that he has to stick to our rules. I prefer having these discussions now rather than leave the whole subject for his teenage years, when he is likely to be less willing to listen.

No, Malory, I feel I may have unearthed some class issues in you.

I still stand by my OP.

I wish I knew which classes BOTH my DSs were going into, which teachers, composites etc, next year. A mixed Y3/4 may be too challenging for my DS2 who is immature and a little behind his peer group. DS1 would do well with the male teachers whom I would like to see in place IF DS1 should find himself in a class with a certain, not inconsiderable number of boys in particular who have already switched off to education- yep, it CAN happen by 9, poor little mites or whatever. IF he IS to be in a class with the majority of these, I will endeavour as far as I am able over the course of the summer to strengthen bonds with other DCs so as to do all I can to avoid my DS attempting to 'find friendship' by running to the boys of whom I speak. SO yes, I will and do, within the home environment, attempt to increase my DSs self confidence so he will be yet better able to differential what's right from what's wrong.

But as the parent of any DS, aged 9 will tell you, you can only do so much with them.

Education is a triangle: school, home, child. I attempt to balance all 3 as beneficially as possible. It's my job.

Incidentally, my DS has some lovely friends across the years as well in yr 4. It's a pity he may well be separated from them in the school's attempt to spread the 'trouble' amongst the classes.

YOU LLOT NEED A LIFE YOU NUTTERS

Cammelia, yes, I'd agree, welcome to England 2008!

Message withdrawn

hI cOd. GoOd to hrea fRom u.

Don't insult EVERYONE on this post! You may only mean ME!

But you said in your OP that you'd know by July 4th which is only two weeks away - you have the rest of the summer to 'strengthen the bonds' with whomsoever you please.

(See, I went to a grammar school too.... )

Again, thanks to the teachers who've told us they don't yet know what they're at next year! If you were going to teach a whole new year next year, wouldn't you like to have an 8 week start as to what in terms of curriculum you need to know, out of interest? As in if you hadn't taught that year before?

And a lovely segue from Cod there, I feel a thread has truly arrived when Cod comes to have a go at everyone.

How does Malory have class issues? Accusing you of being a snob does not mean she perceives you as being of a higher class you know.

"Poor little mites or whatever." Yes, they are. You do realise it was luck of the draw, where you and yours were born in the socio-economic spectrum, and DS may not stay where he currently is now unless he works for it? And has an appreciation of what it would be like to be someone else?

I'm with Malory now.

but imean
your child will education
it will be ok
take a step back

tyring to engineer your childs life and class like this is pointless and in the end youll have a rebllious ki who hates you

That's right Telsagirl, that's how education works, the teachers who find out they are getting the thick shits put the text books away and get the colouring in books out. Obviously the NATIONAL CURRICULUM has nothing to do with it.

FFS.

why do you ened to knwo noW?

Yes, Rusty, I know it's only July 4th- but I guess I'm annoyed that they DO obviously know yet won't 'reveal all'. I speak as a parent who has seen both DSs' classes composited, chopped around, changed. DS2 in particular will find it very hard if he's not with the same 'gang' he's run with for the best part of 2 years. The summer gives me chance to make sure he feels he's still 'part of the gang' even if he finds himself with a bunch of Y3s in his Y3/4 composite he barely knows.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE YOUR KID PART OF A GANG
IF HE IS 9

Cod, we've tried that, I think it has something to do with whether they are fit to be received, or something. Really, step away, this way madness lies. We've all been sucked in, save yourself.

"The summer gives me chance to make sure he feels he's still 'part of the gang' even if he finds himself with a bunch of Y3s in his Y3/4 composite he barely knows.
"

lets face it if you change schools he wont know anyone

As a child I wasn't aware of whose class I be in the next year, at that age anyway. Perhaps the increased expectation of knowledge and anticipation is actually counterproductive. As parents perhaps we tend to fret about it more than is necessary and this can easily transfer to the child who can naturally be more accepting and discerning.

But why can't he be friends with boys in his school even if they don't happen to be in the same class? Ds has kept his special friend though they haven't been in the same class since Infants. Talking of the school separating them seems a bit dramatic.

Besides, if the school does streaming into sets, presumably your ds will spend a lot of time working with children from other classes anyway.

oh it sonly cos malory emailed me to tle me there was a hysterical madowman on the thread i needed to coem and laugh at