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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Eight In a Class - TOO SMALL?

22 replies

YasminsMum · 29/03/2010 09:25

Am a regular but have name changed if you recognise me or our situation please dont mention it.

Just after a bit of advice really, due to many reasons the childrens school has had a lot of childrenleave. We started in September with 16 and now I have found out that we will be down to 8 in September.

The reasons are many and varied and some more valid that others but now to have so few children concerns me as I am concerned that this is too few for friendship/ socials etc

Has anyone else had their child in such small classes has it worked out okay?

Need reassurance really.

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thehillsarealive · 29/03/2010 09:28

my sons reception class started off as 7 for half of the year as they had 2 intakes. It was good from an education POV but the teacher got a bit bored as there is only so much talking to 7, mostly boys that can be done.

no idea what your situation is - or why so few are in the class, but I am sure it will improve with time.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 29/03/2010 09:36

There are 7 in the current reception year at the school my DD will be going to, hers is a larger class of 20, all the reception children seem to be fine, plus the school actively encourages peer leraning and friendships, a friend of mines daughter was there 10 years ago and had 3 in her class and everything was fine.

gingernutlover · 29/03/2010 09:37

is it just the size of class you are worried about? If so, is there a good mix of boys and girls?

I taught a class of 11 receptions in my first job, then 9 more came a long at xmas - I much preferred the bigger class as there was more social interaction and it was more interesting for me as the teacher, but I dont think it hurt the children.

bibbitybobbityhat · 29/03/2010 09:38

I wouldn't be happy with that, tbh.

Original poster

YasminsMum · 29/03/2010 09:40

thanks this is reassuring

I think we are concerned about how do they play sports? They wont have enough for team ?

Teachers being disinterested and leaving

There has been a new head from the state sector and he is changing things.

OP posts:

FiveGoMadInDorset · 29/03/2010 09:43

The teachers have been there for a good while aswell as the TA's.

The school does lots of sports and they play the otehr cluster schools in tournements, this term they have done, touch rugby, football and they have also done netball.

Original poster

YasminsMum · 29/03/2010 09:48

I am concerned as my childs friends are leaving so after summer holidays they will have to make new friends.

I also worry about the financial viability of the school and the cost cutting measures that will have to be taken. Already I see some signs - merging of classes rather than getting a sub in, lack of communication, confusion.

So alittle concerned but children love it there and and have made progress with reading, writing etc

OP posts:

bellissima · 29/03/2010 10:37

Seems a little small in terms of social interaction. Depends on the boy/girl mix I suppose. If it's a private school I would indeed be worried about its future.

Original poster

YasminsMum · 29/03/2010 10:49

Yes it is private and I am worried but it may become a self fulling prophecy if we all look elsewhere.

Just really want some stability.

OP posts:

MommyG · 29/03/2010 11:22

My son has been in a class of 9 previously. Though the teaching was good and school had very good facilities, I still changed his school..
And I must say I'm happy I did that. He had a lots more friends, had more fun and also felt more challenged!

stealthsquiggle · 29/03/2010 11:32

8 in year group or in class - if it is an anomaly, and if they can come up with plans as to how they are going to avert issues with the social side, sports, etc by combining with other year groups, then I would probably be OK with it. If numbers are falling in other year groups as well, or if you have other concerns, I would be looking around.

DS's school has had odd year groups down to those sort of numbers before now and have managed fine - it has generally not lasted long, though (as in, the numbers have gone back up). DS's year group is currently 21 - 1 class of 10, one of 11.

WomblingAround · 29/03/2010 11:42

I'd love my child to be in a class of 8. Socially I can't see it as being too much of a problem. Obviously breaktimes and lunch times are spent soialising with other classes.

Academically it would be fantastic, sort of like a private tutor almost.

I'm suprised people have mentioned teachers getting bored with such a small group. That's not the experience I have had. Actually quite the opposite, teachers have been enabled to do so much more (school visits, outside lessons, more practical opportunities, greater range of creative activities, baking etc) because it's so much easier with fewer. There are many things you can do with 7 that are just impractical with more.

PixieOnaLeaf · 29/03/2010 11:51

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Message withdrawn

PlumBumMum · 29/03/2010 12:02

I agree with wombling & Pixie my dcs go to a very small school and never once have I worried about the social side of it,
they socialise with children of different age groups more than I did at school

and also any teacher I know loves having a smaller class

although it is a worry if the school gets any smaller I do worry about funding and as you say it becomes a vicious circle as you don't want to leave but you don't want to stay if the school is sinking

flumperoo · 29/03/2010 12:20

I agree with what WomblingAround has said. How many children are there in a year group and in the whole school? If you are concerned about socialising with other children then this will make a difference.

OneMoreMum · 29/03/2010 12:38

Mine are in classes of 10, year groups of 20.
Sports-wise it has been great because they almost always get picked for the team, not just the really sporty kids. If they have to field an A and a B team they tend to bring up kids from younger years to make up numbers. Of course we don't win very often but no-one seems to mind...

I would be worried about the continued financial stability, though, I'd try to speak with the school and have them explain how they think they will manage the situation and what they are doing to attract new families.

Friends-wise everyone knows everyone and it's really friendly.

cpbp · 29/03/2010 13:11

Is it a school where there is a problem with the number of girls leaving specifically with girls leaving at the end of year 2 etc to go elsewhere? Just wondering if it is the school my DS is due to join in Sep!

Is it in SE London?

lilmissmummy · 29/03/2010 13:19

When DD started school there were 8 in her year and 20 in her class (combined year classes) it works fantastically as with 1 teacher and 2 teaching assistants they get almost 1 to 1 attention. At one point due to people moving and leaving the class went down to 16 (5 in her year) but it soon picked up again and they now have 21.

As onemoremum said they always get picked for sports teams, speaking parts in school plays and the teachers know the parents by name. Works really well for us!

rabbitstew · 29/03/2010 17:42

Whether it is OK or not depends on what the other children are like - if your children can't find anyone to get on with, then it's a problem, if they are happy and have friends, then it isn't.

colabottles · 29/03/2010 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mumtolawyer · 29/03/2010 20:30

My DD is in a small class and they manage it by having sports etc with the adjacent year. I think it's great - they get huge individual attention and all abilities can be properly assessed and taught. I think in London there is such a flow of people that class sizes can be hugely variable at any time and also that the fall-out at the end of Y2 due to either girls or boys going to other schools following 7+ is high.
Unless you have specific worries (eg your child is being bullied and can't get away from it) then I'd stick with it if you are otherwise happy with the school.

sunnydelight · 30/03/2010 03:46

I wouldn't like it personally. My two eldest went to an indie school with a total of 55 pulils for a couple of years. DS1 was in a mixed Y5/6 group of 12, 8 boys and 4 girls. There was some kind of girlie falling out and the ALL left. DS1 was really upset as he got on really well with the girls and didn't want to be in an all boy class, but they actually all got on fine until a new boy came in and caused havoc trying to establish himself by dividing the group. I was SO over it by the time DS1 left for secondary I pulled DS2 out too.

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