As you know from my previous blog and newsletter before half term, we have set classes for September considering a number of factors such as boy/girl ratio, Marwood/Roseberry ratio, mix of year groups and the percentage of children with additional needs in each class.

In the past, we asked children to suggest names of friends they would like to be placed with. However, this proved problematic with children changing their minds, parents being unhappy with their child’s choice of friendship group and it being almost impossible to please everyone!

Consequently, we decided to set classes for September based upon our knowledge of the children’s academic ability, as well as knowing the children with whom they work well. We also considered whether we felt children would be more confident being an older child in a mixed year group class, rather than one of the youngest. Another factor considered was children’s emotional needs re transition – some children would feel more settled staying with the teacher they already know, rather than getting to know someone new and move classrooms.

Although my previous blog outlined the year groups in each class, I didn’t explain why we have mixed year groups in classes and this has led to some discussion amongst parents. It is for this reason that I have written this blog post to explain in greater detail the reason why we have mixed year groups in classes at Roseberry and how we cater for these within our curriculum delivery so that all children make progress.

Our school is quite different to many others in that we have an admission number (the amount of children we are legally able to admit into a year group) for infants and another for juniors. We are able to admit up to 30 children into EYFS, Year One and Year Two. This makes setting classes easy, as we have a class for each year group. In order to make room for children joining Roseberry from Marwood Church of England VC Infant School, our admission number for children from Year Three to Year Six is 51. This makes setting classes more difficult and, consequently, results in mixed year group classes.

As the number in each year group fluctuates year on year, the structure of classes is something that we have to adapt. Setting classes for Year Three to Year Six is never easy! We are not, however, unique in having mixed year groups in classes. Many small village schools have up to four different year groups in one class!

For September, the numbers from Year Three to Year Six are as follows:

Y3 40
Y4 28
Y5 47
Y6 40

Splitting these children between five classes means that, inevitably, there will be mixed age groups in some classes. However, we are used to this.

For as long as we can remember, there have been mixed year group classes at Roseberry and meeting the needs of children within these classes is what teachers do best! Although lessons are planned with reference to the National Curriculum end of year Age Related Expectations for the year groups within the class, teachers adapt the content of lessons to meet the needs of children’s individual abilities.

In September we will be launching our brand new curriculum, which will be theme based and enable children to use the skills and knowledge they have been taught across a range of subjects. With mixed year group classes in mind, we have worked with a curriculum design specialist to create a two year curriculum cycle, ensuring that the National Curriculum for each year group is covered and that topics and themes are not repeated as children move through the school. Even the texts that children will study as part of the English curriculum have been included in this plan.

Children are usually pretty resilient and adapt well to their new class structure. It’s sometimes the fear of change that makes them feel a little wobbly. However, this fear usually disappears following our transition days in July when children have the opportunity to experience what it will be like in their new class. They soon realise that they know children in their new class and that change can be fun. We do explain to children that although they may not be with their best friend in class during learning time, they will still see them during break and lunch time. Some children have expressed concern that they will not be able to eat lunch with their friends if they are in different classes. It is for this reason that from September, children will go in for lunch in year groups and not classes. This will enable children to be with their friends.

Please be assured that we have considered children’s emotional and academic needs when setting classes for September. Children will continue to receive the care, support and excellent teaching they are used to as they move into their new class in September.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss this further. I am always happy to meet with parents for a cuppa and a chat!