Skip to content

    • Mixed-Age Classes

    Our Pupil Admission Number (PAN) is 45. Most schools organise classes with an average of 30 pupils, with infant classes legally capped at 30 (except in very exceptional circumstances). To make best use of our PAN and ensure high-quality teaching, some of our classes are organised as mixed-age classes.

    What is a Mixed Age Class?

    A mixed age class is one where children from two year groups are taught together in the same classroom. This structure allows us to organise classes by age and developmental stage, while still meeting all National Curriculum requirements.

    Our Class Structure

    Reception:

    • 45 children
    • Children are taught in an open-plan base

    Key Stage 1:

    • 1 Year 1 class
    • 1 mixed Year 1/2 class
    • 1 Year 2 class
    • 30 children per class (90 total)

    Lower Key Stage 2:

    • 1 Year 3 class
    • 1 mixed Year 3/4 class
    • 1 Year 4 class
    • 30 children per class (90 total)

    Upper Key Stage 2:

    • 1 Year 5 class
    • 1 mixed Year 5/6 class
    • 1 Year 6 class
    • 30 children per class (90 total)

    How Children Are Placed

    Classes from Year 1 to Year 6 are organised carefully by age, ensuring children are grouped appropriately:

    Key Stage 1:

    • Year 1: 30 youngest children
    • Year 1/2: 15 oldest Year 1 children and 15 youngest Year 2 children
    • Year 2: 30 oldest children

    Lower Key Stage 2:

    • Year 3: 30 youngest children
    • Year 3/4: 15 oldest Year 3 children and 15 youngest Year 4 children
    • Year 4: 30 oldest children

    Upper Key Stage 2

    • Year 5: 30 youngest children
    • Year 5/6: 15 oldest Year 5 children and 15 youngest Year 6 children
    • Year 6: 30 oldest children

    Why Mixed Age Classes Work Well

    Our staff are highly experienced and skilled in teaching mixed-age classes. This approach brings many benefits:

    • Flexible grouping allows children to work at the right level, regardless of age
    • Children are treated as individual learners, with teaching personalised to their strengths
    • A strong sense of co-operation is encouraged rather than competition
    • Older children develop confidence and leadership by supporting younger pupils
    • Younger children benefit from seeing positive role models and learning behaviours
    • Children learn from one another, developing independence, confidence, and problem-solving skills

    Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

    Teaching in mixed-age classes reflects best practice found in all high-quality primary classrooms.

    • Teachers carefully weave the curriculum together, ensuring all children access age-appropriate learning
    • English and Maths content often overlaps naturally across year groups (e.g. addition, spelling patterns), taught at different levels
    • Where objectives do not overlap, specific year-group teaching is planned and delivered
    • Some subjects operate on a two-year rolling programme to ensure full curriculum coverage
    • All teaching is fully aligned with the National Curriculum for each year group
    • Subject leaders closely monitor coverage to ensure learning is progressive and complete

    How We Achieve the Best Outcomes

    By doing what we do well, every day:

    • Teachers act as facilitators and coaches, building strong relationships with pupils
    • Children work on tasks that are matched to their learning needs
    • A collaborative classroom culture is encouraged
    • Flexible grouping is used confidently, including whole-class teaching, small groups, and individual support
    • All children access the same overarching themes and topics, ensuring equality of entitlement
    • Learning tasks are high-quality, engaging, and appropriately challenging
    • Formative assessment is used effectively to guide teaching and support progress
    • Where appropriate, children have opportunities to work in single-age groups for social or academic reasons

    Cookie Policy