AnniePH wrote:
kenyancowgirl wrote:
Just to add that I am not sure why you would be worried about 33 in a class anyway - class size has not been proven to have a major affect on pupil's attainment....and, to be absolutely frank, 33 is not huge, grammar school or not.
33 is big. But also I think my comments were more specific to Skinners' in terms of it already being a small town centre site with little room for additional students. Where do they draw the line - 35 pupils per class? 40 per class? The worry is that it creeps higher and higher each year. I personally wouldn't want my child to be in a class this big. Social space, eating space, library space and classroom space are all going to become increasingly cramped - not to mention the ability of each teacher to cope?
To be honest going from 32 to 33 in a class as a result of appeals is not a big difference. My younger son is still at the school and his year group was the first that went from a 4 form intake to a 5 form intake thus putting an additional 30+ plus boys into a year group in one fell swoop. I was concerned but any concerns I had were completely unfounded and the school just carried on in the way we were used to. That year group are now in yr12 so the whole school is now 5 form entry. I have never had any complaints from either of my DS about a lack of resources, teaching issues or being cramped.
As a Skinners' parent I would say not to worry, the bricks and mortar aren't what make a school.