A Level classes - is this acceptable?

[ZaZathecat]

DS has just started sixth form and is saying that he hates one of his subjects (which previously interested him). Main reasons are a) there are 30 people in the class, and b) they have 2 teachers alternating. One is OK but the other 'just gives out book work and doesn't actually teach'.

This seems a bit out of order to me as my experience of sixth form was smallish classes with lots of discussion and teacher explaining or talking to the class. Quiet study was homework or for free periods (which seem to have all but disappeared).

What are others experiences of current A level classes - is this normal/acceptable?

Bobo
I have read masses of evidence
But you've never actually had to practice what you preach, have you?

DH goes to over 100 schools a year with groups ranging in age from 3 to 25, group sizes from 6 to 900 and ability ranging from extreme learning difficulties to post graduate.

Very small groups before the age of academic specialisation result in the princess effect.
Very large groups in higher academic levels impact on the ability of all voices being heard.

I used to teach in HE, Talk, and wrote and published teaching materials. I do have quite a lot of experience of how different sized groups learn.

Much experience of younger kids / non selective groups ?

Just that it gets very boring that every Secondary thread is hijacked by the same few people with a very expensive and selective non representative experience .

Hopefully the OP and her son will be able to work something out over the coming terms but if the group stays big they have to work with that, not pontificate about might have beens

Just for the record, DS's school is a comprehensive.

Have not read all of this thread, but just here to ssy remember now that educstion is compulsory till 18, my dd year was compulsary till 17, the AS Classes were large, but went down considerably for A2 level, (she also had 2 teachers per subject for both years), i think the days of small intimate A level classes are gone now due to the above.

Masses of evidence in which case you will have no trouble reassuring Zaza by sharing one or two of the references to these studies of the effect of class size and learning results for A levels. Might have been simpler in answering her concerns than your previous blanket statements.

I still weep at the memory of teaching an AS class of 32 and an A2 class of 30 - my subject is music. The cut off for splitting the group into two was 35. It was, without question, the worst year of my teaching career and I think it was pretty horrible for the students too. However, it was the practical/composition/harmony that broke me; I literally dreamt about marking (I talk in my sleep and my dh used to take the piss out of my nocturnal mutterings). The 'bits' that were more classroom based were really invigorating and the numbers had no negative impact.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head Millipede.

I'm sure Millipede is right. It is also no reason to worry.