Class Organisation

With just over 50 children on roll our children are taught in 2 mixed age classes.  

Willow: Reception, Year 1 & 2

Chestnut: Years 3-6

The teachers carefully plan the children's learning so that everyone works on what is relevant for their ability. A teacher’s craft is the weaving together of the knowledge and understanding that children need to learn in a way which extends learning. The National curriculum is arranged in mixed age groups (Y1/2, Y3/4, Y5/6) with children expecting to be able to achieve objectives by the end of the two years. The curriculum is organised into a rolling programme to ensure that children learn new things each year. 

All children develop in maturity at different rates. It isn’t automatic that the youngest child will be the least mature and the oldest child the most mature. We teach children to their individual needs (maturity and ability) not their age. All classes have a large range of abilities; teachers are used to dealing with different abilities. They never teach the same level of work to every child. They make sure that each child has the correct level of work irrespective of age. Mixed groups merely extend this range a little. We teach children at their level whilst maintaining high expectations for all and expecting that children will achieve age related expectations at the relevant points throughout their time at school.

The mixed age group environment creates an atmosphere where children learn to help and be helped by other children, because they interact consistently with children whose age and abilities are varied. Children gain an appreciation for their achievement and the accomplishments of others, and are naturally challenged by the achievements of others.