Naul National School Class Split policy
Rationale:
In schools such as Naul National School which do not have eight classes, it is necessary to have a mixture of straight classes and multigrade classes. This has always been the case at Naul NS. Some class groups may need to be split. A class split is put in place for one school year. These arrangements are made year to year. This is in the interest of providing the best education for all students by offering classes which are smaller in size and offer a better pupil-teacher ratio. Lower pupil–teacher ratios ensure the best possible teaching and learning environment and has the most positive impact on a child’s achievement. Numbers and staffing arrangements will dictate the arrangement in subsequent years. In short, a class may be split once, more than once during their time in primary school or perhaps not at all.
Aims and Objectives of this Policy
- To provide a framework for the splitting of classes
- To outline the process by which children are selected to be placed in a split class grouping.
Framework for Splitting Classes:
At the time of planning classes for the coming year, the principal will look at the overall numbers in each year group and the number of teachers available to teach them. The principal will decide how best to organise classes with a view to providing the best educational opportunities for all children.
Process for Allocating Children to Classes:
Naul NS is a 6 Mainstream Teacher school and it is inevitable that some classes will be split depending on each year’s enrolment. It is likely that a class grouping will be split annually in the coming years.
- Where such splits are deemed necessary, a class will be split on the basis of age and gender.
- A class will be split on the basis of the oldest boy and then the oldest girl being selected until the required number of pupils in each room has reached an equitable spread of pupils between the relevant teachers.
- Parents of twins and siblings will be given the option of splitting their children or keeping them in the same group.
- Class divisions will be made known to parents and pupils at least 2 weeks before the summer holidays.
- We will take friendships into account. Children will have a chance to write 3 close friends names and we will ensure that they are in a group with at least one close friend.
- The process of forming new friendships is a life skill which is important to develop. A positive and supportive attitude from parents is a key element in achieving a successful outcome in the new groups.
- Classes that have been split reunite daily to play together on the yard during breaks so they can maintain existing friendships as well as make new friends in the new group. This increases their circle of friends and their abilities to form new friendships.
Why your child is in a split class.
The DES allots one teacher to each group of 26 pupils at present. This is known as the pupil-teacher ratio. The ideal situation for teacher and pupil would be a single stream class at all class levels with no more than 20 pupils per class. However, the current system does not allow for this, and the principal has overall responsibility for grouping or splitting the classes where numbers would otherwise be too big or too small in one class. The DES’ objective is that class size should be as equitable as possible across all class levels. The pupil-teacher ratio is dictated annually by the government budget and schools have no control over this.
The allocation of teachers to split/mixed classes.
It is the duty of the Principal as per Circular 16/73 to assign teaching duties and organise class splits.
This policy was reviewed in June 2023.