Teaching several year groups in one class: workload in small schools

[Longtimelurker1980]

Has anyone got experience of teaching in a small school with several year groups in one class? What are you thoughts about workload?

No but assuming class size is small. A large KS2 class could have the equivalent of this with a very wide range of abilities in one class and behavioural difficulties too.

i think it’s a normal class size, just mixed age? I get that classes can span a year or so either side for children with greater or lesser prior attainment but that’s in a single year class - I’m guessing the issue is exacerbated with 3 year groups in one class, meaning ability could span 5 or more years?!

As an SEN advisory teacher I’ve certainly worked with children in Y6 working at YR/Y1 level. Parental choice for mainstream.
Is it a role you are considering applying for? Assuming the curriculum will be adapted.

So 30 kids across three different year groups? I've got to admit, I'd run a mile. Sorry, I know that's not very helpful...

A few years back, I taught mixed year 4-5. So in that class, there was almost 3 years between the oldest and youngest. In a class with three years between, there could be almost 4. The difference in maturity and education between say a 4-8 year old or 7-11 year old is huge. Things like White Rose are good for 2 year mixed classes, but I still used to spend 2 hours a week just planning maths. Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and be more helpful, but I think it would be incredibly difficult.

Thank you. I think I have my answer!

I have taught a mixed reception – year one – year two class with numbers ranging from 17 in the whole class to 30 and also a mixed year 3– 4–5–6 class which had 31 children in, both scenarios were very hard work and very time-consuming. In some areas, small schools and mixed stage classes are the norm and it’s hard to avoid them.

I used to teach mixed yr 5/6.

Maths is the hardest. It can work if you have really good TA support and enpugh space for differentgroups to be working on different things. It's really not ideal though.

Everything else was okay really as long as you're organized.

I wouldn't personally choose this type of position again unless I really liked the school and knew there was definitely good classroom support.

The other thing to consider is how many hats you'll be expected to wear in what I'm assuming is a small school. At one point, I was maths lead, science lead, music lead and NQT/ECT mentor. For no extra salary! I absolutely loved my job and loved the school but eventually I burned out and I no longer work permanently in school.

I would want to know how many TA’s there are and how they’re used. I’m secondary but my son is in a fantastic tiny school. He’s in a 3/4/5/6 class of 20ish with a teacher and 2 TAs at all times