And that's it; after 7 years the expansion has filtered through - we're full! (well,, we have 2 or 3 places, but that's it!) I bet that's made some of you feel old? Especially if you've been with us from the start! It was 2016 when I introduced the idea of expansion to you - understandably there were a few nerves around, loads of questions, loads of excitement - taking everything into account the benefits far outweigh any negatives. The building is gorgeous, spacious, airy; we have retained the relationships with the kids we always had, and if anything standards have increased - both socially and academically. We can offer more clubs than we did before, the path through school is actually smoother, and the curriculum is more varied as the number of, and diversity of teachers increased. We have introduced the mini groups of 15 which ensure that the kids have the reassurance of knowing at least 14 other people in their class, as well as leaving us with 45 friends as they move onto high school. Change comes - that's inevitable. In this change we saw opportunity - and we - all of us - made it work.
To an outsider, perhaps teh pathway through school is a little tricky to grasp. Initially, in reception children work as one, grouped into a 22 and a 23 behind the scenes. At the end of reception we group children into mini classes, or groups, of 15 —group a, group b and group c - based on age. So within for example reception, children will be put into these 3 groups—creating mini “classes” if you wish. And it will be these groups that move, not individual children. I’m explaining this badly, I know that, and I know what I’m on about… bear with me…
So in the future reception children will be
Reception A (15 older reception kids)
Reception B (15 mid born reception kids)
Reception C (15 younger reception kids)
And the children will always be with their little group of 15, so that as they progress through the school they will always know 15 children, yet will meet all the year group in different year groups.
So school may look like this one year.
Class 1. Rec A Rec B (30 reception children)
Class 2 Rec C Year 1 A (15 reception children 15 year 1 children….. A mixed aged class)
Class 3 Year 1B and year 1C children.
The following year it could be 1A children would go into a straight year 2 class with, for example 1C children—so groups 1a and 1c meet up. With 1B going into a mixed aged class with 15 year 2 children!
This way children meet up with everyone in their year group every other year, yet stay with friendship groups because it will be groups of 15 who are moving, not individual children.
As always, any questions pop in and see your class teacher, or a member of SLT.
That said, for now we can over staff the school, and we will do that next year. Children in year 5 and year 6 will revert back to their reception cohorts, and will be taught in groups of 22 and 23 for their final 2 years with us. Try not to worry about children commenting on "friendship" groups - which ever class the children are in, there is always massive healthy movement between the groups, the kids will always know someone, and if nothing else, remember please kids ability to cope! We often underestimate this ability.
I know it sounds complicated, but to us, it's just our job. The curriculum is meticulously planned - meticulously, and remember children are never held back, or advanced - they are always taught age appropriate objects. I give you my word on that.
