infant mixed age classes in primary schools?

Question

how will a child progress will a child be held back by another child of less ability

Answer 1

Hi, i think mixed age schools are very good so long as everyone is at the same level. I remember when i went to primary school (i'm only 17 so it wasn't long ago), i found it very boring waiting for everyone else to catch up when i already got the concept of whatever we were learning. (I hate being big-headed but i was quite smart for my age). It also works the other way, i had a friend who was.....less inteligent lets say. He found it hard work to keep up, and gave up. Sad thing was when i took time to explain it to him, he got the concepts well and was very good at it.
My sister is training to be a teacher and has spent time in many different schools. From her experience i can solidly say that in mixed age schools, teachers have less trouble with students as they are not bored or frustrated as they work at their pace.
I can, however, see why parents would object. To be able to learn at your own pace may make children lazy. However i think if the teachers and parents have enough influence on their childs learning then this won't happen. I also hate to say, i know its a sweeping generalisation, but most parents who object to mixed aged schools ussually have children who are with the 'lower groups' if you see what i mean.
I hope this has helped and would be glad to anwer any other questions.

Answer 2

If the class is well planned there should be no problem. Things have changed from when we are at school. Children are taught in diffferent groups within the class so will get the appropriate input. However, obviously there can only be so many groups within a class therefore there has to be careful planning into the structure of the class.
In some cases you will find that the mixed age class is better than the straight class as there are usually smaller numbers. And everyone( apart from the government) knows that class size is the biggest factor.

Answer 3

I totally disagree with this to have mixed ages in primary schools regardless if they do different work, the younger less able ones will always get more teacher time.

This is one of the reasons that I send my 6 year old son to private school, even though they all still work to their abilities, there are only 10 in the class allowing a lot of one on one time with the teacher...

I think its criminal that in government schools there are sometimes nearly 35 children in a class, in my nephews class there are 33 children in a 2 year age range, how the heck can a qualified teacher get to all of those kids in a lesson... I don't want a teaching assistant teaching my child, I want a qualified teacher...

sorry to rave on, but this subject just inflames me as we are doing a terrible injustice to our children's early education.

Answer 4

It all depends on how much support and learning does on at home, as to how much an infant progresses at school. Most of the infant teachers will give a bright child work that is appropriate (if it is available).

Some schools have Classroom Assistants who support the teachers, by spending time with 'slower' learners, leaving the teacher free to teach the rest of the class.

Answer 5

Maybe you are talking about lots of primary schools mixing two year groups together due to the falling birth rate/falling school roles.
If taught well, this can often be good for the child, it is better than being in a school with huge financial problems cause they are trying to run two very small classes.

Answer 6

My children have always been in composite classes. This year my son is in a 4/5/6(he is in Grade 5), and my daughter is in a 1/2/3/4(she is in Grade 1). Both of them have thrived in these settings. Being a teacher myself I appreciate the school's effort to create an environment where multi age settings are the norm.

Answer 7

My son has been in a mixed Year 1/Year2 class all year. As far as I can tell, it hasn't held him back.