Changing Lives, Building Futures?Newid Bywydau, Creu Dyfodol

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My children have been in 3 primary schools (due
to house moves) and the third (current) one has
mixed classes as it's a small village school. I
wasn't keen, it was a downside for me, but
actually it seems fine. The school seems to put
more effort into teaching children at the level
they're ready for, as the teachers have to work
with a wider age and ability range, so the work
seems to be more differentiated than at their
previous schools and my children have enjoyed
making friends in different years. I really
wouldn't have expected to be writing so
positively about mixed year classes but so far,
no problems at all. Miss P (Comments taken from
an internet parents forum) We hope that this
leaflet has answered some of your questions and
concerns around the organisation and impact of
mixed age classes. If you have any further
questions please talk to your childs school.
They will be able to help and reassure
you. Useful reading Estyn. (2006) Small Primary
Schools in Wales Gaustad, Joan. (1995).
Implementing the multiage classroom. ERIC Digest.
Eugene, OR ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational
Management. Katz, Lilian. (1995). The benefits of
mixed-age grouping. ERIC Digest. Champaign, IL
ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early
Childhood Education. Stone, Sandra. The multiage
classroom A guide for parents. ACEI Speaks.
Veenman, Simon. (1996). Effects of multigrade
and multi-age classes reconsidered. Review of
Educational Research, 66(3), 323-340.

• MIXED AGE CLASSES
• The majority of schools in Caerphilly CBC have
  classes where the childrens age range is larger
  than a year. This is not a new situation for our
  schools who have successfully educated children
  in mixed aged classes for many years. The reason
  for organising classes in this way is because
  schools are funded per pupil and there is also a
  class size limit of 30 pupils. A year group will
  often be either more or less than this number and
  so for educational and financial reasons pupils
  will need to be grouped with either older or
  younger pupils.
• A considerable amount of research has been
  carried out on the impact of mixed-aged classes
  on childrens achievement. The research indicates
  that children make the same or better progress in
  mixed-age classes than those children in same-age
  classes. Also children in mixed-age classes have
  significantly more positive attitudes towards
  school, themselves and others (Stone,1998Veenman,
  1996). The Association for Childhood Education
  International (ACEI) lists a number of benefits
  of mixed-age classes. These include
• Childrens needs are more accurately met as the
  teacher focuses on teaching each child according
  to his or her strengths.

Changing Lives, Building Futures?Newid Bywydau,
Creu Dyfodol
Changing Lives, Building Futures?Newid Bywydau,
Creu Dyfodol
2

•    Children learn at their own rate and have
  more opportunity to take charge of their
  learning. This sense of ownership and self
  direction is the foundation for life long
  learning.
•    Children develop a sense of family with their
  classmates. They become a family of learners
  who support and care for each other.
•   Older children have the opportunity to take
  leadership roles.
•   Children are more likely to co-operate than
  compete.
•   Older children model more sophisticated
  approaches to problem solving, and younger
  children are able to accomplish tasks they could
  not do without the assistance of older children.
• In 2006 Estyn carried out a report into small
  primary schools in Wales where 90 children or
  less were educated in classes with multiple age
  ranges in one class. The evidence indicated that
  overall, pupils in small schools achieve similar
  standards to pupils in other schools. The report
  also highlighted that pupils in small schools
  (in mixed age classes) achieve slightly higher
  standards in key skills (speaking and listening,
  reading, writing, numeracy and using information
  and communications technology) than pupils in
  other schools.
• Your childs school will ensure that the teachers
  who are chosen to teach a mixed age class will
  have been well prepared to work effectively with
  this situation. School schemes of work,
  assessment policies, resources and training will
  ensure that all children make good progress. Each
  child will be given work according to his/her
  stage of development. The new Curriculum in
  Primary Schools in Wales The Foundation Phase
  and the KS2 Skills Curriculum both ensure that
  the child is taught as an individual and that
  their stage of development, not their age informs
  the teachers planning.

The well being of the children is also of great
importance for the school. The school will make
sure that the children are happy and settled in
their new classes and that there are
opportunities for children to continue with their
peer friendship groups throughout the school day.
Parents comments about mixed age classes We
moved area and schools two years ago, and I was
horrified to discover that my son was in a mixed
age class in the new school. Even worse, they did
the same age split thing, but because the classes
had already been set when we moved, he was in the
'older' mixed class instead of the younger just
yr1 class, despite being the youngest in the
year!I was very, very worried, but in fact he
has been absolutely fine, and has made friends
with children from both classes as they spend a
lot of time together anyway. Mrs A My child
went through mixed classes in his school. It
really has not been a problem. In fact, it has
its advantages, with the children getting to know
other children from other classes and feeling
more confident with change. There will always be
mixed ability in any class, teachers are trained
to deal with that. Ours are taught in groups
depending on ability. I think it worries the
parents more than the children, and no evidence
in our school of it affecting the children's
progress, as far as I can tell. Mrs J  My child
is in a reception - yr2 class and it's great. I
think it's better for her than a single year
class actually because it seems more
inclusive. Mr D

Changing Lives, Building Futures?Newid Bywydau,
Creu Dyfodol
Changing Lives, Building Futures?Newid Bywydau,
Creu Dyfodol