School Organisation

1
School Organisation

• September 2008

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Christ Church

• Ofsted outstanding
• - standards and achievement
• - personal well being
• - teaching and learning
• - leadership and management
• - overall effectiveness
• - self evaluation
• In 2006, top 100 schools in country
• In 2007, top 5 schools in local authority

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Background

• Pupil Admission Level (PAL) of 38
• Fingers crossed
• Independent sector
• Local Authority Review
• quality of accommodation
• strain on outside space
• size of classrooms in KS2
• heavy workload
• limited opportunities for 11 support
• indoor PE

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Background

• Review of organisation of Reception children
• Imbalance
• - gender, ethnicity, EAL
• - role models
• Knock on effect
• - too much change
• - parental perception

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What is going to happen?

• Additional two classrooms 10 classes in use from
  Autumn 2008, 11 classes from 2009 /2010
• Gain all year round play surface
• Move to mixed age classes initially in Years 1/2
  and 3/4.

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Mixed Age Classes the research

• Academic achievement is the same, or better than,
  the academic achievement in single age classes
• Develop cognitively and socially through
  interacting with older and younger children
• Provides an environment where older learners not
  achieving age related goals do not feel they are
  failing
• Older children being role models for those
  younger ones achieving age related goals and
  beyond

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Mixed Age Classes the benefits for your children

• Continuity they will be split at the end of
  reception and kept in their cohort
• Bring stability to friendships
• The school will be even more effective at
  personalising the childrens learning
• Increased opportunities to work in similar
  ability groups
• Strengthening the family feeling
• Better quality planning

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Mixed Age Classes what we are already doing?

• A successful mixed Year 1/2 class
• New curriculum in place on a two year rolling
  programme no repetition
• Year groups already working together
• Streaming in place for literacy Read Write Inc
• Children are used to working with more than one
  adult e.g. TAs and PPA time
• Teachers who are already highly skilled at
  differentiating activities to meet a wide range
  of needs
• Transition from Foundation Stage to Year 1
  already embedded
• Highly effective tracking system in place
  ensure individual needs are met.

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Sorting the classes

• Already moved away from sorting by age
• Mixed age, gender and ethnicity
• Professional judgement.

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In conclusion.

• Exciting development for the school
• Commitment of both the staff and Governing Body
• New class structures are common to many schools
• Monitor and review.

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School Organisation

• September 2008