What is the ideal primary class size?

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We have an offer for a place for DS1 in September but the class size has nearly doubled from last year. Last year it was ten and this year 17. One teacher and one teaching assistant. I know its still relatively small but it seems a big jump. Or was ten too small in the first place?

I have been working so far on the basis that the smaller the better because they'll have more attention. Now a bit confused.

I think you are lucky that it is not 30 like most places in the country

10 is pretty small but 17 is still really small compared to averages of 30 in primary classes. I teach in a special school and our classes range from 7 - 12 - I prefer the 12 as anything smaller it's harder to do group or paired work (considering personalities and abilities)

17 is still a great size
are you in the uk?

Yes we're in the UK. But its not state, its an independent school and expensive. So yes we are lucky but we are paying for it. When we went to the assessments we were told that they hadn't decided whether to split into two reception classes or whether to increase the size and remain with one class, it would depend on the number of boys who passed the assessment.

I just didn't know whether it was better for the boys to be in smaller classes and whether I should query why they are not having the two smaller classes after all.

Its useful though Ramona to hear the point about group work I hadn't really thought about that.

I would expect a class size of around 15 for independent primary reception

i am really happy there are only 20 in my dd class, any less would be a miracle these days

I think 17 would be ok and would be worried if 10 were the size of the year group-2 classes of 10 fine, but just 10 too small.

We are moving DD to an independent school with a class size of 24 and a year size of 72! There's no way that would have been right for her at 4 but at 8 it's not an issue.

10 is very small, especially given that there are always some who don't attend each day due to illness / holidays etc. With 17, which is still very small, there's more chance of an interesting mix of personalities which is all part of education in my book!

Dd is in the standard class of 30 which I always think is a bit too big but she seems to quite like the buzz of it despite being on the quiet side herself.

We're blessed with a little village school - with 16 in reception. But next year, there will be two different year groups in one class, to bring it closer to 30.

I think I've been persuaded!

There are 15 in my dd1's reception class - village school. 24 when ds1 started and 12 when ds2 started.

I'd have thought 17 was great. 10 sounds a litlle too small.

we've been in a school with 10 or less in a year, not good! Too small for choice of friends and then there is the inevitable mixing of classes as the LEA can't justify the expense of teachers.
We now have 30, which seems a lot, but the ds's seem to like it.
About 20 is perfect I reckon.

I know people who have chosen the smaller class size for the individual attention it offers. They have later changed schools when they realised the limitations re social aspects - 5 yr old having to invite 9 yr old school friends to their party as they didn't have enough school friends of their own age. Ds's class has 15 so big enough to have different friendship groups but small enough for individual attention.

I think 10 is too small and 15 would be ideal.

The dc go to an indendent school and are in classes of 20 which is fine.

I think that 10 is too small, you need more children to get ideas to flow and spark each other off. I would say that 16,17 and 18 is ideal. Up to 20 is OK. Unfortunately you rarely get small numbers-I find over 24 hard work.

DD's in a class of 14 (Y2) with one teacher and no TA. In reception there were 16 with a teacher and TA. The class size and ratios ahave been great and has worked very well.

I am a PT (mornings only ) TA in a Y1 class with 30 pupils. There is no TA in an afternoon, just the teacher. I find that much harder going and the children def don;t get the same evel of attention obviously.

ds in in a state reception which has two classes of 20 and that seems a good size to me.

I think 13-17 is the best, maybe bordering up to 20. I think it depends if single sex or co-ed. I nannied for two children, one who had 20 girls in Reception and Yr 1 (which worked well, lots of choice for friends etc.) and the other had 14 in co-ed, but with only 6 girls, so had to be friends with them if didnt want to play with the boys.

When I had a Reception class, there were only 12-15 in the first term and it was so boring I was constantly on top of them, I felt like I was hot-housing them.

But I guess some parents would like that

I think 20 is a good number - that gives them enough teacher time and enough peers to be able to make friends.

I would go for 20ish. Under 15 in our experience is too small, and becomes very claustrophobic.

dd's class is 20 (state primary: it actually was over numbers at nearly 40, so they've split it in two) and seems to work really well. Its big enough for her to have plenty of girl friends, but not big enough to get 'lost' in, iyswim.

I'd much rather 17 than 10, personally, especially at independent school.

I read a study once (and of course I can't find it) that concluded that 20 was the optimum size - smaller and you didn't have enough children for ability groups and friendship groups to work well, and there wasn't as much sparking off each other, bigger and the teacher was spread too thin.

DS1 was in a class of 24 for the first two years of school with a full-time TA and then went into a class of 27 with no TA which was a big shock.

I agree with BigTillyMint. The first class I taught had 12 children in it. It was just so intense. I really didn't enjoy it.

My favourite class size is about 20. Lots of time for individual attention, but more opportunities for friendships with a wider group of children.

There are 35 in my daughters reception class!!

Presumably there are 2 teachers though gibba. It is a statutory requirement to have one teacher for each 30 children on the register in Foundation and KS1

36 in my dc class!yr5