Is it a good idea for step siblings to be in same class at secondary school?

[zazas]

My DS and DSD are both starting the same secondary school this September. Two older children are already there but in different years. We are thinking of requesting that they are in the same class (one of seven) - does anyone not think that this is a good idea or have had experience of this situation?

They get on great and have been part of our 'blended family' since they were both three and are both OK with the idea of being together. My DSD will have other friends from her primary school there but my son won't although he is a very confident child and is not worried about this.

My DH's ex when he discussed this with her was initially not keen on the idea and concerned that it would stop them from making new friends but apparently she is OK now (although as I hear everything second hand it is hard to get the exactly what her thoughts/concerns are!).

We feel that it would be beneficial for the children as they obviously would know each other therefore they always have someone in their class they are friendly with and that it will make homework and what is happening each day more straight forward as both will be doing the same thing - so logistical reasons really. Classes are put into sets through after a term and they are at different levels in subjects so they wouldn't be in the same classes for everything.

Can anyone see any downsides to this they we aren't aware of?

What do the children want to do?

What's the schools views?

The children are happy with the idea - since they are a boy and girl they feel that they will not rely on each other as friends, just that it will be nice to see each other. They both have different interests that will see them at lunch times in different activity groups.

I don't know if the school has a sibling policy? Will ask!

I guess with no experience of this, I was wondering while it might be great now at 11 years old but maybe as they get older they would appreciate the space???

Don't really know anyone win a similar situation!

I don't have experience of this as a parent, but remember vividly when I was at school, and my best friend's mum and my boyfriends Dad started dating. The DC's spent a lot of time together in school and saw each other at lot outside school as well - and, well, the inevitable happened and my friend had to go and get the morning-after pill Oh, the drama

If your DS and DSD have grown up as siblings, then it may not be an issue - but perhaps leave the decision around classes up to the school to decide - they must have experience of these things

Personally I've avoided this situation. My dsd and ds go to different schools. Dsd is exceptionally bright and I didn't want ds to live in her shadow.

The other issue for me is the realisation that dp and could split up and then the children would end up having to see each other every day at school. I don't necessarily think it would be good for my ds to be reminded everyday of what was going on in his ex home.

My DD1 and DSS1 are in the same class together in Reception and there are no issues. They have some of the same friends and some different friends, it hasn't hindered them socially. They have been brought up together (both live with us) since they were 2. All the twins in school are in the same class together too. In our school there is one R class and one year R/year 1 class. My DS1 is in year 1 and is in the mixed R/yr 1 class so it wouldn't have worked splitting them up as it wouldn't be fair to my oldest DS to have a younger sibling in his class.