mixing up classes in primary school

[susyp]

Is this a good idea?

our school normally mixes the classes throughout the years - but now they won't be doing so.

just wondering what others thought?

thanks

susypx

[pebbles]

My son is in reception and they're mixing up the classes for next year and then they'll spend 2 years in the same class and then I think they're mixed up every year until they leave.

Personally I think this is a good idea as it allows the children to spread their wings a bit and meet new friends and at the end of the day they can play with their old friends in the playground as well.

Have they give you a reason as to why they're stopping it?

[bornagain]

My children went to a school that sorted the children into 2 classes after reception and then kept them in the same classes until year 6. This resulted in two parallel classes that rarely mixed socially which was a great pity as my children 'lost' friends that ended up in the other class.

I think regular mixing is a good thing and as pebbles says allows the children to make new friends. By the time they reach year 6, they can be thoroughly tired of the children in their class and also can be a trap if your child is not for some reason thriving socially in their class.

Also there is a danger that one class is seen somehow as 'better' than the other.

Do you know why your school is changing their policy?

[susyp]

no didn't go to the informal meeting where it was announced. I'll ask though. I think my daughter would be fine either way really but if this had been done when i was young i really think my school days would have been a lot better! Would break up the cliques which can cause such misery for some children. And i think it is good to get used to making new friends regularly. Which would help going to secondary.

thanks for confirming my thoughts!

Susypx

[damzel]

Bornagain, you've highlighted my worry completely there. My daughter hasn't really made any stong connections in her reception class and I get the impression that she feels a bit left out sometimes. It's terribly sad to see her going from a very friendly and confident pre-schooler to a bit of a loner. A shake up for Y1 might well do the trick. I've no idea if her school does it though. Which schools do?

[edanna]

damzel, why don't you raise this as an issue with the head? If they aren't mixing up maybe she could swap classes?

damzel Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Bornagain, you've highlighted my worry completely

> there. My daughter hasn't really made any stong

> connections in her reception class and I get the

> impression that she feels a bit left out

> sometimes. It's terribly sad to see her going

> from a very friendly and confident pre-schooler to

> a bit of a loner. A shake up for Y1 might well do

> the trick. I've no idea if her school does it

> though. Which schools do?

[damzel]

I think swapping classes might cause a bigger issue, if she's the only one who swaps. She does have friends in her class but she often seems to be the 3rd wheel, sometimes with one of them pushing her out. Although, I am getting this from what she tells me (and a couple of witnessed incidencies), which is difficult to really understand from a 5yo. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see what really happens.

I'm new to this school stuff and I would never have considered contacting the head directly, not sure I'd be be comfortable doing that either since I've never even met him.

Anyway, I've high-jacked this thread so will leave it there for now. Thanks