Different country (NZ) and the class sizes go up and down according to government policy. Not so long ago the aim was to get primary classes down to 15, then someone read research that teacher skill is more important than class size so they upped the class sizes to pay for training. 2 years ago my 5 year old had a class of 18 kids, 4 weeks ago my second child started in a class of 24 kids. We have one teacher per class who teaches everything from reading to swimming. Aides are based on assessed need (by funding people) so the deaf kid might get a translator only for the morning, the kid who is a couple of years delayed gets one hour of aide time a day etc. I think class sizes trend upwardsto the low 30's over the primary years but like I said it changes. When I was a kid in the 70's 35 was considered perfect.
They ability group at our school for the first 2 years, they used to stream maths for the next 2 but they just stopped. I had hopes when ds7 said he was in a maths group but it sounds like it is a low/medium/high mixed group to do "group work". Bleh.
Eta as the post above crossed with mine. There is no evidence that class size is pivotal but it is certainly calmer and quieter with 15 kids in a class of 5 year olds all other things being the same.
Last edited by puffin; 06/03/14 01:02 AM.
