Tudor CEVC Primary School Parents’ Forum – March 2014 How do we best organise the children into classes in the academic year 2014/15?

Considerations We have a Pupil Admission Number (PAN) of 45 This means that there will have to be at least some mixed age classes Currently there are no year groups with 45 children in them but theoretically there could be Many schools teach mixed age classes as successfully as single age classes Theoretically Year 2 and Year 6 are doing different curriculums than the rest of the school next year Ideally whatever we establish should be sustainable EYFS would remain as one single unit

Options Option 1 – we stay as we are Option 2 – we organise the classes into age groups Option 3 – we organise the classes into ability groups Option 4 – we develop an intervention group

Option 1 – we stay as we are This means: Two Foundation classes Three mixed classes in Key Stage 1 Three mixed classes in Lower Key Stage 2 Three mixed ages classes in Upper Key Stage 2 (currently, we have separate Year 5 and 6 classes and a mixed group in the middle in Upper Key Stage 2 but they are smaller year groups)

Advantages It’s the most equitable system It allows teachers to plan together Children will be more able to select a friend or two to be in the class with them

Disadvantages There can be a danger of pitching to the middle – not enough challenge for the most able; not enough scaffolding for those that need support – this can be especially true in maths A wide age range and wider levels of maturity Different curriculums with different expectations in Years 1 and 2 and Years 5 and 6.

Option 2 – we organise the classes in age groups This would mean fewer mixed age classes. Across two year groups, the classes would be organised by age. The oldest would make a one single age class; as would the youngest. There would then be a much smaller mixed age class in the middle. These children whilst in different years would only be about six months different in age.

Advantages There would be fewer mixed age classes with therefore a narrower achievement and attainment group in each The curriculum could be more tailored The smaller group in the middle, whilst mixed age, would get more individual support from being in a small group This is what the majority of mixed age PAN schools do Children would only be in mixed age class for one year at a time

Disadvantages The mix of children might need to be carefully considered There would be greatly reduced, if any, scope for children to choose their friends to be with Could be considered less fair Transition from EYFS into Key Stage 1 for some of our youngest children could be challenging

Option 3 – we organise the children into ability groups In this option, we would see the three parts of the school (Key Stage 1/Lower Key Stage 2/Upper Key Stage 2) organised in to three streams or sets according to the children’s abilities. The more able the group the larger the group would be.

Advantages Theoretically a much narrower ability range in classes Work could be more directly targeted Support could be intensified in the groups where it is most needed

Disadvantages Less flexibility for movement between classes It would be difficult to organise children who were, for example, excellent at maths and needed support in Literacy These groups may not include friendships The most able also need support Three classes doesn’t really narrower the ability range that much Self-esteem issues

Option 4 – we develop an intervention group This model currently runs in Upper Key Stage 2. There are two single age classes of Year 5 and 6 and a small group of 16 in the middle who need a greater level of personal intervention.

Advantages More single age classes Easier curricular teaching Evidence shows that the model is beginning to work in our upper Key Stage 2 classes

Disadvantages Flexibility of movement between groups could be hampered Danger of creating a “sink” group where expectations are too low Damaging to self-esteem Permanence of these groups