how are split classes worked out? (mid term transfer)

[MERLIN666]

Hi not sure if any one can help but i am in the process of appealing a class size prejudice I have received the pupil amounts foe each class. From Yr1 to Yr6 they are all split, however, Yr 6 id favoured and have only 24 per class. I could re organise the class splits so each class over the years have 30 pupils. The net capacity of the school seems to fluctuate as dose the admittance no from 45 54 & 60. So i was wondering how the head teacher works out how to split classes / years & if there was any guide lines to follow?

[toomuchicecream]

We were told very clearly by the county maths advisor that next year it is not possible to teach maths to years 5&6 together due to the new curriculum. Year 6 are still on the old one, year 5 on the new one.

Historically I suspect many schools will have tended to put year 6 on their own if they can as it's better for all concerned with SATS preparation.

I don't know of any specific guidance on how to mix year groups but schools will do it in the way which makes best use of resources and is best for the children. Are you really suggesting that you will go to an appeal and tell the school to reorganise all their classes???

[rollonthesummer]

Are you really suggesting that you will go to an appeal and tell the school to reorganise all their classes???

WSS!

How pleased would you be when your child was in year 6 to have their class size increased to 30 when it could have been 24?

[DeWee]

I would love to see the head's face at appeal when you tell him that you (who know nothing about the children you're dealing with) would rearrange the classes for him, whcih probably has been done carefully knowing the children involved.

I suspect the head probably has enough intelligence to be able to do it without your help. I suspect my 7yo probably could too. The reason why they do it that way is almost certainly because they feel it is best for the year 6. That's 24 children.

But if you've seen on here the anxiety surrounding mixing/splitting classes I really can't imagine any school being happy to let them come back in September and then tell them "oh we had someone appeal and offer to rearrange all our classes so you're in a totally different class", can you? Realistically?

[rollonthesummer]

It really is spectacularly selfish and short-sighted to suggest this!

[lljkk]

I don't think there are any strict rules other than

[spanieleyes]

Let's get back to realism here!
What year group are you appealing for and how many children are there in the year group? How are they currently split? Are year 1 and 2 in a mixed age class? What happens in year 6 is generally irrelevant as there is no class size prejudice there ( or elsewhere in KS2) so it is only the make up of KS1 that you need to be concerned about.
I could even out the classes in my school by moving some of the year 2s into year 4 but that's hardly going to happen is it! So we will need more information to tell you what is possible/probable/implausible rather than envisaging a wholesale reorganisation of the school to suit you!

[aJumpedUpPantryBoy]

The HT will have looked at many many factors including the pupils in each year group and the capacity and strength of the teachers.
Believe it or not they will have been looking at the bigger picture and doing what is best for as many pupils as possible.

To suggest you could rearrange them is a little insulting.

Next year I will have 30 pupils in my class, the next class down will be considerably smaller. This hasn't been done on a whim, it is the result of lots of discussion and careful consideration of all the different facets that make up school life.

[PumpkinPie2013]

There are loads of reasons for organising/splitting classes a certain way!

SATS for Y6 - smaller class is favourable here!

What needs to be taught (topic cycles can be very complicated and you need to make sure every child covers everything required by the time they leave)

The number of children with additional needs and also the nature of those needs.

The expertise and experience of the teachers.

Number of TA's

Honestly I could go on! It's about what is best for the children and ensures the best possible learning.

It will have been carefully worked out!

[louisejxxx]

Deary me, I've seen it all now.

"I could reorganise the class splits" REALLY?!

[ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy]

Ok, I think OP used some unfortunate phrasing!

If it seems that a school overall has some spaces, I can understand why OP thinks that this might be grounds for an appeal, even if the current set up doesn't allow for any spaces in the year group she wants...

[ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy]

...OP, I think changing splits is beyond the remit of appeals panels. Without knowing which year you are appealing for, it's difficult to comment further. But if it is one of the first three years, and the school has KS1 classes of 30 (whatever the mix) then you are up against ICS regulations which make it very difficult for the panel to admit unless eg a mistake has been made.

[MERLIN666]

Hi Guys

Sorry if my previous post offended any one, perhaps i could clarify.

It was a general query as i only received the class figures & net capacity through launching an appeal.
Im curious as to why the net capacity over the last 3 years increases & this year has decreased (no changes to buildings). As with the Published Admission Numbers.

It just seems odd to me that from year 3 the class sizes are between 22 and 30 not up to 35 as i believe they can be or maximising the class numbers as per the net capacity . Just taking the data and with my
in-experienced eye, as figures the classes could be split in a more efficient way so every class in every year was at 30.

Obviously i would assume that there are factors as to why they have smaller numbers in the higher years and im interested in what these could be as some one who obviously has no experience in this area i wondered if any one could clarify for me (not trying to tell a head how to do their job, just wanted a fuller understanding)

There is a major problem with schools in my area, 2 new schools are being built in the next few years (& one built not so long ago). This obviously dose not help kids living in the area now, Reception kids are being asked to go to school on the other side of town 4 miles away, but through traffic this will take at least an hour.

I suppose my thinking is as the school in question is needing improvement with a contributing factor being teacher experience should the LA not be funding extra to the school to assist & to ensure every school is accommodating to their full net capacity rather than paying for taxies.

How can the government & council have let so many new homes be built without schools being in place before the majority of the development is even finished?

[ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy]

Which year is your child entering, OP?

[ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy]

It's possible that some of the "higher" years were naturally not full - lower local population/birth rate then.

[MERLIN666]

My child is due to start yr 2.
Yes from year 4 there is a vacancy in each year group, but just looking solely at figures the classes could be split & still have room in each yr group for the said vacancies.

Thanks for some of the clarification i have received.

[titchy]

How the year 3 + classes are arranged is completely irrelevant, as are vacancies in those years. It is how the year 2s are arranged that matters to your appeal and they cannot go above 30, so look at the KS1 classes - how are they arranged?

[spanieleyes]

How many children are there currently in year 2 and how are the class splits organised?