Dear Parents
I hope this e mail finds you all well and adjusting as best possible to home learning. Thank you for the incredible support and encouragement you have given to the school and teachers at this time.
Every year we revise our approach to constructing the Year 5 sets, to improve the experience for pupils and the composition of classes. This year we had consulted extensively with our Parent Focus Group on the approach for Year 5 intake 2020 and I was to write out and inform parents of the detail and methodology behind this process. I never imagined we would be doing this all remotely in the wake of a pandemic.
The first thing I would need to state is that the Year 4 classes are mixed for Year 5 to give every single child the opportunity for new friendships and it is the outworking of our inclusive school ethos. Some children have experience of changing classes, others do not. However even the children who have been together for possibly the last 4 years are ready to experience a new class dynamic and friendships. This is a positive and healthy step as children grow and develop within themselves. I appreciate that school finished at most three months early for our Year 4s, however creating the 'Strandtown' class sets for the start of Year 5 is still the best time to do this, as it gives three further years for them to remain together and doesn't bring any change to the start of Year 6.
Every class is constructed with the aim and challenging endeavour of having an equal of mix and composition, that is a similar representation of pupils from the infant schools, an equal proportion of gender, an equal spread of academic ability and learning profiles. Please note, this will not look like the same number in every class as this year we have a hugely boy-dominated year group and there are not the same number of children from each infant school, however they will be equally represented in each class.
In previous years children have nominated 3 friends that they would like to go with. The last three years has seen a number of problems arising from this approach, for example children nominating on impulse and children in large friendship groups feeling an enormous burden in only selecting 3 pupils. We have also had much experience of children nominating from a sense of obligation. This approach has also been very difficult in enabling us to support pupils who are socially more isolated.
After consultation with parents, staff and Governors it has been decided that this year the teachers will create the class groupings based upon their knowledge and observation of pupils throughout the school day. Every pupil is a priority in doing this sensitively for a supportive transition. Teachers are exceptionally well placed to understand pupil relationships and friendships and indeed appreciate those which have a positive impact upon the child throughout the school day.
This process will commence with all the teachers in May and I wanted to keep you updated and informed of our approach.
Kind Regards Victoria Hutchinson
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