Below is the composite class letter issued to parents earlier this week:
Dear Parent / Carer,
Please find attached your child’s class placement for next session. This information is our proposed plan for next session but there could be changes in the school roll over the summer, which may necessitate unavoidable changes in the class structures.
Our current school roll for 2019 / 2020 is as follows:
Primary 1 = 26 children
Primary 2 = 25 children
Primary 3 = 25 children
Primary 4 = 24 children
Primary 5 = 23 children
Primary 6 = 22 children
Primary 7 = 22 children
Our staffing allocation allows for the creation of 7 classes, which have been formed in line with current NLC class size guidelines ensuring places still exist at each stage:
- Primary 1 = Maximum of 25 children
- Primary 2 and 3 = Maximum of 30 children
- Primaries 4 to 7 = Maximum of 33
- Composite classes (classes with two or more stages) = Maximum of 25 children.
Session 2019 / 2020
| Primary 1 | Mrs McCargo | 22 children |
| Primary 1/2 | Mrs Neary | 23 children |
| Primary 2/3 | Mrs Slavin/Mrs Moore (Fri) | 25 children |
| Primary 3/4 | Miss Park | 24 children |
| Primary 4/5 | Miss Mulvaney/Miss Coyle | 23 children |
| Primary 5/6 | Mrs Allan/Miss Coyle (Fri) | 25 children |
| Primary 6/7 | Mrs Carroll | 25 children |
Uneven distribution of the school roll can make it necessary to form a ‘composite class’. There are 6 composite classes next session, Primary 1 / 2, Primary 2 / 3, Primary 3 / 4, Primary 4 /5, Primary 5 / 6 and Primary 6 /7, which means that two year groups are taught in the one class by one teacher.
This does not mean that any pupils are being held back or moved forward. All of our children are taught in groups, which are formed by putting pupils together who are at roughly the same stage of development. Indeed, in many ways all classes are composite, as children are at different stages of development and have different abilities.
National guidelines on the curriculum indicate that pupils should proceed through learning experiences tailored to fit their personal level of attainment. This means that pupils in all classes will follow programmes constructed by the teacher to help them progress at their own level. This applies to all pupils regardless of whether or not they are in a composite or single year stage class.
‘In addition the school will make every effort to involve pupils of any one year group in activities which bring the whole year group together. In this way, pupils will be able to continue to identify with children of the same age, especially at important times such as transfer to Secondary School. At the same time the school will also try to ensure that the natural identity of each Primary Class is maintained.’ (extract from NLC Composite Class Leaflet)
Where there are classes with the same year group, e.g. P 2 / 3, children at the same stage will still come together as a year group on a daily / weekly / termly basis, for example at playtime, lunchtime, golden time, parties, school/stage assemblies and in sacramental classes at R.E. times etc.
I am confident that the planned structure of our classes for next session is the best way that we can ensure continued progression and achievement for our pupils.
Yours sincerely,
Miss AM Boyd
Head Teacher
N.B. This is subject to change as staffing and number of children attending school in August may vary from information contained in this letter.
