Class Organisation 2023/24

Class organisation mainstream children in Reception – Year 6 for 2023/24

2022/23 has been the first time in over 15 years when the school has had 7 straight year group classes. In 2021/22 and for a number of years before that, we had 6 mixed age classes.

At the time of writing, we cannot be certain on the class organisation for September. We have to plan according to two possibilities: 6 mixed year classes or 7 straight year group classes.

If we plan for 7 classes regardless, and then not have sufficient pupils, the school will face a significant financial deficit.

It is really too close to call at this time. If there are 180 pupils or less on role Reception – Year 6 on 1/9/23 then we will need to have mixed age classes. If there are over 180 we will probably have single year classes. At the time of writing there are 181 pupils projected (but there is some uncertainty as to whether this will remain the case).

Schools have to set classes of no more than 30 on 1st the day of term in September but funding is only equal to the number of children in school overall. It is further complicated by the fact that our admission number (which is determined by the local authority and based on the size of rooms in the school) is 32 in each year.

Classes will not be announced until the very end of term – this is not disorganisation on our part, it is simply that late admissions will mean that we will need to reorganise at the last minute.

If we organise mixed age classes our policy is to organise according to dates of birth for pupils going into Reception – Year 2.

For Years 3 – 6 we consider a number of factors e.g. gender, friendships, additional learning needs.

Our Policy for the Placement of Pupils in Mixed Aged Classes and the LA's Mixed Aged Classes Leaflet are available on the school website here

You may also want to refer to the LA’s Mixed Aged Classes Leaflet which is linked here.

Parents of children going into Years 3 – 6 are asked to ensure that if they have concerns with regard to keeping friends together (or children apart) that they put these in writing and pass them to their child’s current class teacher before May half term. We cannot promise to accommodate all requests but will take them into consideration.