Within education our clear purpose is to bring about success for all our young people through raising levels of achievement, attainment, and participation.
Class Sizes
Scottish Government guidelines state that class sizes cannot exceed:
- Primary 1 – 25
- Primary 2 to Primary 3 – 30
- Primary 4 to Primary 7 – 33
- Composite classes – 25
Composite classes are made up of children from two or more year groups. This includes ALL compositions of classes such as P1-4, P3-5, P6/7 and P1-7.
Learning Experiences
Learning in Primary Schools is based on the principles of Curriculum for Excellence. This means that schools provide a broad general education designed to meet the needs of all learners and ensure challenge and progression.
Schools promote flexible and creative approaches to meet the needs of all pupils. Learning takes place in various ways and places using different groupings and processes such as whole class, group and individual activities.
Although schools are structured in classes, learning is generally organised in groups.
These groups may be within classes or across classes and may be based on interests, aptitudes or the need to support and challenge pupils. Teachers constantly monitor learning needs and make decisions about pupil groupings accordingly.
Allocating children to classes
For organisational purposes, schools are structured into classes. Each year it is the responsibility of the Headteacher to organise the class structure. Any decisions will be determined by the total school roll, the number of teachers allocated to the school, the physical capacity of the learning and teaching areas and any need to accommodate specialist equipment and mobility aids.
Classes may be changed as the year progresses. This may be due to increases or decreases in school roll or decisions made to best meet the needs of pupils. Class structures may consist of composite or single stage. Children will be placed in composite classes with consideration given to a number of factors:
- Learning needs
- Gender balance
- Siblings
- Age
Education Services will support any decision made by the Headteacher following these criteria. In most cases single stage classes will be determined by age. If parents are unhappy with the class organisation they should speak with the Headteacher in the first instance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When are classes formed?
A. Generally speaking classes are formed before the end of the summer term. Occasionally changes to class organisation occur after a break (i.e. school holiday) due to changes in school roll, or to better meet the learning needs of pupils.
Q. When will I know which class my child will be in?
A. Headteachers will advise parents and pupils of this as soon as possible however changes to classes can occur at any time. Should classes change during the course of the year, parents will be advised prior to this happening. Changes normally happen at a break in the school year.
Q. What is the school roll increases?
A. If children move into the catchment area of the school mid-session and there is no space for them in the appropriate class, they will be offered a place at the nearest available school. Where resources permit, classes will be reorganised at the next natural break (i.e. after a school holiday).
Q. What about pupils who wish to attend a school outwith the catchment area?
A. These pupils will only be accommodated if the school has the capacity to take them and there is space within the appropriate class.
Q. Why aren’t composite classes just organised by age?
A. Using age alone may not best meet the needs of individual pupils.
Q. When can I enrol my child in school?
A. The Councils Admissions Policy gives information about when parents can enrol their children. For new Primary 1 enrolments priority will be lost if the application is after the 15 March each year. The following link may be useful for parents: Choosing a school for your child – gov.scot.
Q. Will my child remain in the same class group throughout the school year?
A. Not necessarily, schools constantly monitor and track pupils’ learning and progress. Decisions will be made throughout the year to ensure the best outcome for each child as they progress in their learning. This ensures continuous improvement and challenge for all. Changes to classes normally occur at the next natural break (e.g. after a school holiday).
Q. Will my child remain in the same learning groups throughout their school years?
A. Probably not, schools Constantly monitor and track pupils’ learning and progress. Decisions will be made throughout the year to ensure the best outcome for each child as they progress in their learning. This ensures continuous improvement and challenge for all. Changes to learning groups occur regularly.
Q. My child is in a multi-stage composite school and is currently in P4. There’s a P1-P4 and P4-P7 in the school. Why is my child in the P1-P4?
A. The decision made will have been based on the following factors: learning needs, gender balance, siblings, and age. For further information please contact your child’s Headteacher.
