45 pupil intake dilemma - Advice needed on which primary school to choose for Sept this year.

[jandcsmum]

Would really appreciated some opinions on our dilemma.

The story so far (sorry it is so long winded) -

We were intially not offered any of our preferred 3 choices of school. We were gutted and to top it off, the school we were offered was terrible. We asked to be put on the waiting list for our first choice and put in an appeal. We didnt think we would get any where with the appeal as it is based on class size, but wanted to at least feel like we were doing something.

We asked school admissions which schools in the area did have places and were told about a really good one that was about 4 miles away from us. We went and had a look at it, and asked to be considered for a place. We were then offered a place there that we accepted. We were concerned though as the journey to school will take us through two traffic hotspots that are very unpredictable and can take 20 mins one day or 45 the next. The other downside to it was that there was no pre-school, and I have a younger child who I would want to ideally go to it if they had one in a couple of years. After speaking to the headmaster though, he said that they had plans to have one by then. In all we had managed to get out heads around our son going to this school.

We were on holiday last Thursday when we received a phonecall from admissions saying that we were being offered a place at our initial first choice school.

Since we initially put our application in for the school they have put their class size up from the published 30 to 45 due to numbers. This was the first year they were going to reduce their numbers down to 30. As we were appealing we had enquired how this would work and the head teacher said reception would have two classes, split 22, 23 and then they would have 3 classes of 30 for year 1 and 2. One class of pure year 1, one mixed 1/2 and a pure year 2. This theme would carry on through the school and he said pupils chosen for the mixed year would be put in a pure year the following year and vice-versa. He also said that if the in-take for 2011 was 45 the children could be mixed with in the year below them in the future too.

As we were on holiday we couldnt go back to see either school and they are on half term this week. Admissions wanted an answer straight way from us and we have managed to persuade us to have until tomorrow (Tues) to give them an answer.

Really unsure of which way to go, they are both good schools. One has the journey against it and the possibilty of no pre-school and the other one has this 45 intake with the split years, but my son is currently at pre-school there and does know the children from the morning session, but could be split up from them anyway!

Has anyone had experience of these split years and think they work/dont work at all?

Any opinions on any this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Many schools work some kind of split year groups system so this is nothing novel. I would have absolutely no problems with having mixed age classes if you are confident about the school in terms of educational standards.

To me you decision comes down to one of what is most sensible for you and your family. when I balance a potentially difficult journey every day, with no pre-school facilities against the school your child is already familiar with, which has a pre-school I don't think there is any contest. Take your first preference school, especially as this will probably give priority to siblings.

I would agree that the mixed age class school sounds better, especially as it sounds as if the school has operated this way already. The nearness of the school and existing pre-school are also good points.

The unpredictability of the travel time would be the deciding factor if all other things were equal.
Mixed aged classes can and do work in many schools

A good school can and will make it work.

If it's a happy positive place and as a family you feel it matches your expectations of a school then I think I'd be giving it a shot. You won't be the only parent with concerns so I am sure the school will be addressing them once children are in class.

Being local is a huge benefit as your kid becomes part of the community and aware of their community.

We live in a relatively rural area with lots of schools with small intake each year, thereby necesitating mixed year group classes.
I admit I would much rather have a straight one or two class per year intake, but it seems to work fairly well were we are.
A main gripes would be

1. Spliting up friendship groups. Our school does it strictly by age, so oldest half of yr 1 might be in with all of year 2 etc. Then next year when the current yr 1 become yr 2, they would all be back together again with half of this years reception.... They used to do it roughly by ability which I'm sure worked better, but got too many complaints from parents.
2. Some children miss out on certain topics, for instance DS3 has never done the Vikings, whereas the oldest half of his year group did them when they were mixed in with the next year up (following it so far...?).

Over all I would still chose a good (and convienient) school with mixed classes over an indiffernet one further afield.

Agree to take the school with mixed intake. IMO, convenience of the journey to school is very important indeed.

OP I take it your initial first choice is local to you and walkable distance?

In which case it's a total no-brainer IMO.

Lots of schools do the mixed class thing - I know a school with an intake of 45 which does exactly what you describe - ie two reception classes then mixed from then on - with great success.

It is a fifteen minute walk from us. We had just heard some stories of children being overlooked at schools where it was a 45 intake (not at this school though) and as this is our first child to enter the schooling system we were just apprehensive.
Thank you to everyone so far for your advice.

2 of my children have been right through primary school with this system, if it's done well it's fine, they have the youngest year twos and the oldest year ones in the mixed class. It actually reduces the age gap in the classes which in key stage one can benefit some children. mine are both autumn children and they definately benefitted. The only possible draw back is that the class dynamics change each year although this can also be an advantage to some children, anyway they get used to it cos it's normal for them and they don't know any different. Godd luck it's a really difficult time choosing a school, go with your gut instinct.

ds is in an excellent school with a 45 intake/year group. They have mixed classes - I think for reception they had two smaller classes but from Year One up they have a straight Year One class and a mixed Year One/Year Two. It's fine - school manages it very well. (It's not the same kids who get mixed every year, one year it's the oldest 15, next year the youngest.) Ds is in a mixed class this year and really enjoying it, he likes being one of the oldest for a change (July birthday) and making new friends in the year below. He also made friends in the year above last year when some of his friends in Year One were in a mixed Year One/Two class.

Also think it helps the ethos of the school - a richer experience. Not sure if I could claim less bullying than anywhere else but they do get to know kids in other years and I think that helps, I dunno, cohesion or something? (Although they do other things that help with that too, the older kids help the youngest with nativity plays, or if they walk down to the church or somewhere else for a day out locally, and are given responsibility for one or two reception children in the first few weeks to help them get to grips with school.)

Certainly wouldn't turn down a good school with mixed classes.

Oh, agree with Ineed2, if you think about it a July birthday like ds has more in common with a September born in the year below.

Our school almost always has an intake of about 45-50 each year, I am getting used to split year classes; the other plus side is that several years DC have been in relatively quite small classes for the state sector (22-26).

If they both have strengths I would go for the nearer one every time. Agree that mixed age classes can work well, too.

Nearest school with the mixed age classes for sure. DD used to go to a school with exactly the same set up and it was never a problem.

She now goes to a smaller primary school with only 3 classes for the whole school. So one for infants, then Yr3/4, then Yr5/6. No problems at all and I don't even think about it.

I'd go with your original first choice school.

I think mixed age classes at primary level can have huge benefits in some cases - my DS was in a mixed age class in Y1 and Y2 and made a huge leap academically and socially - the older children set a good example for the younger one and the teacher becomes more adept at setting each child work suited to their academic level rather than age.

My DD's experience in single year classes was nowhere near as good (same school) as the more able children were bored and the least able were given work they couldn't really do - they seemed to teach to the middle of the class and DD's progress has been far more sporadic.