Information about Mixed-Age Classes

What is a mixed-age class?

A mixed-age class is defined to be a class in which there are children who are from more than one year group. At St Michael with St John CE Primary School, we have 3 mixed age classes: Year 1/2 Turtles and Year 3/4 Falcons and Y5/6 Leopards. 

Why are classes mixed?

Mixed-age classes are necessary in schools as a result of the number of pupils on roll in each year group and the funding that is available.  At St Michael with St John, we have 45 pupils on roll in each year group.  The maximum number of children per class in Key Stage 1 is 30, and although class sizes can be larger at Key Stage 2, we aim to keep these no larger than 30 in order to effectively meet the needs of all children and due to classroom sizes. Therefore, a mixed-age class in each key stage is the only method available that we can financially support, to best meet the children’s needs at school.

How will we decide which pupils to place in the new classes?

We will consider a number of factors carefully when creating the new classes each year. This will be done in close liaison with senior leaders and teachers, who have a strong understanding of how different groups of children work together. These factors include:

• age and gender (to ensure a balance across class and year groups)
• stage of learning
• additional needs
• social and emotional development
• other factors

The final allocation is always made by the Headteacher and is based on professional judgement of where the child will best flourish in their personal, social, moral, spiritual and academic achievements, along with any other factors that may need to be considered.

Will my child be held back if she/he is placed in a mixed-age class?

No. The ways in which learning and teaching are organised in means teaching is tailored to meet the needs and current achievement of individual pupils in each class. The highly skilled teachers at St Michael with St John are experienced at differentiating planning and delivering lessons to children with a vast range of needs. The two-year rolling curriculum ensures no topic will be repeated by the children.

I am concerned that my child’s friendship grouping is being broken up.

At St Michael with St John, the children have the opportunity to mix with a range of different children regardless of which class they go into.  They also mix with all children in their year group at playtimes and lunchtimes.  As all the children may change class groups each year, this allows them to build new friendships and extend their circle of friends. When the children move on to secondary school, new friendship groupings in different subject areas become a fact of life, and the situation is generally welcomed by the children.  

What are the benefits to working in a mixed-age class?

Children benefit from mixing with a variety of children and using their social skills to form new friendships. They relish the opportunity to support other children, build new teams and develop their problem-solving skills alongside their peers. There is often a greater sense of cooperation and opportunities to work with a wider circle of peers all of which are life skills that are hugely beneficial. This kind of grouping can also nurture thinking and problem-solving skills, vocabulary and social competencies.