My children had split classes almost every year in primary school and learning didn’t seem to be a problem for them. The hard part came when half of the class went up to the next level, year 2 up to 3 because my son couldn’t understand why his friends went on up a level and he had to stay behind due to his age level. Made him hard to keep on the learning treadmill as he was bright enough to have gone up. All finally turned out well in the end.

My kids school did this for grades 1 and 2 and also grades 5 and 6. I haven’t noticed any particular ill effects from them having combined classes and I think this is a fairly standard practice. They have a curriculum to follow and your child will still need to be meeting their milestones and from my experience, they don’t seem to get any less assistance from their teachers.

This was my son last year 4/5 he was in year 4 I was very worried about him as well but he ended up doing really well and a lot of new friends.

I’ll be upfront – I work in a school and am a parent, so have seen split classes from both the perspective of a parent and as a teachers assistant from within classrooms of year groups from kindergarten through to high school.

The first split class my oldest child (now 13) was in was her kindy class (I believe it’s called prep or something on the east coast – kindy in WA is 4 year olds and not compulsory).
Starting school in a split class with older students was great.
She learned what she needed to learn and was exposed to and learned some of what the older kids were learning too.

My oldest actually had split classes all the way through primary school except for year 6. She went to a small primary school where this was how they got the classes to exist.

I actually liked her having split classes all the way through.
Being the younger year group gives a student their own year groups content that they should be learning. It also exposes them to the content they will learn the following year.
It makes it easier for a teacher to accelerate students who learn content quicker, as well as give students who need refreshing on the previous years content that revision, before moving them back to their own year level work.

My second daughter has also had split classes from kindy through to year three and then had single stream classes.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the split class at this stage.
If you do see something once school has started that worry’s you – eg only one year groups work content being taught and not both, then go and talk to the teacher and the school about your concerns.

Every child is very different. This situation depends on your child. There is a massive difference in kids in year 1. Some are tiny, barely able to read, shy. Some will turning 6 still others turned 7 half way through the year. If you don’t want your child in the split level ask them to change it and put a better suited child into the year 1/2 split instead.

I was in a split class in year 3 and it was a 3/4 composite class. I actually felt that it helped with furthering my education that others my age. We did a lot of learning together and I was learning more to my age/abilities. I honestly think it’s a great idea.

This is actually called a composite class at my school (a split class is when a teacher is absent and the class is split acorss several others). I was not happy when my kids were first put in one, as I’d had a bad experience myself. But they all seem to have coped okay.

My children were often in a composite class during primary school and they did well. Socially it was positive as the boys got to know the older students and academically it made no difference that I noticed.

My grandsons started at a new school this year and both are in split classes. I was a little concerned at first but they seem to be doing well and from what I hear it is the way many schools do this nowadays.

My daughter has been in a split kindergarten class for the past 2 years (with 3, 4 and 5 year olds all together) Sometimes it’s good so the older kids can take the younger ones under their wing but sometimes if the split isn’t even, one age group may benefit from more appropriate class lessons while others lag behind if the learning is too advanced or not advanced enough for them.
I personally think in the younger years of primary school that the kids would benefit from only having their class grade. I imagine it would be harder for teachers to manage two curriculums as well.

Yes….two of My children were in split level classes. The eldest was very advanced for her age and was in a Grade 123 class and it was awesome as she was grade 1 but could read with the grade 3’s.
The other had learning issues but even though she was held back a year she never knew and was still with her age group.

Yes, Two of my kids have been in split classes and honestly it was fine. I was a bit worried at first but in reality it wasn’t an issue. The kids are split into different groups for maths /English( spelling mastery) anyway, depending on what level they are at so basically the teacher is teaching to their level whatever class they’re in.

All three of my children have been in these classes and they loved it. They could work independently and also help the younger classmates as well. I think the selection of children in these classes are from teachers recommendations. My first born started in Kindy/One mixing with children who had been in school all the year before and she loved it. These children showed the kids how school works. In the play ground they all mixed in together playing games. Do not feel as though there are any disadvantage’s it’s got more positives than you will ever know. My children’s school had two teachers teaching these classes for at least three days of the week. One teacher was teaching the children French and the other was teaching the children Indonesian. My kids can still remember these simple lessons of French and Indonesian numbers and colours.

Yes my eldest 2 kids have been in a split class more than once and they loved it ! I think we see now a days more adjustment being made anyway for students at different academic levels, which is great.
Most of the time the staff looks carefully at which students will be placed in such a class. When your daughter is considered an option for this class, they most likely consider her capable to cope with this

I used to be in a split class myself and I thought it was advantageous. You get to learn more

Hi there, my kids go to a school with split classes and honestly it is really good, if the child is more advanced they get to do work that is to their level and if they are struggling they can catch up in the other classes and the teachers are great at keeping it discreet and nobody notices and there is no bullying because a child is a bit behind because nobody notices

i have my daughter be in split class and she loved, it is for kids that can handle it as they do some year 2 work if they are in year 1 that the kids can understand. my daughter all talks about it now and she 19 and finished school.

Yes my youngest daughter was put in a Year 1 /2 class it didnt do her any favours as she didnt really learn that much and always had to catch up it really depends on the child if the child is smart gifted then yes its good othewise NO

My child was in a split class and she did fine. This had alot to do with her teacher also. Some kids flourish, whilst other may not. If your child gets put in the class and you feel it’s not working or isn’t for them, you can request to move into a straight yr 1 class.

I work in a school, if your daughters being considered for a split class, then she’s currently working at a higher level than her classmates and the teacher believes that she would benefit from access to harder work, so she doesn’t get bored. This is a good thing 🙂