Organisation of Classes Survey
Review of Organisation of Classes Policy 2022-23
Three years on since the last review of Stirling Council’s Organisation of Classes Policy, we are asking our parents/carers, staff and pupils in our primary schools ‘What works well in relation to organisation of classes?’ and ‘What could we do better?’
While individual experiences from within the Stirling area may be different, we want to hear from a wide cross-section so we can continue to ensure our services and supports are meeting our children’s needs.
This 2022/23 review will consider relevant existing policies from across Scotland, national requirements and advice, and will include feedback gathered from primary headteachers, school staff, pupils and parents/carers. An online consultation on Engage will be one of the methods used to gather views. Information from the review will inform the revised Organisation of Classes Policy.
This consultation is open to parents/carers, members of staff and headteachers in Stirling Council primary schools.
The existing policy and the survey is available below.
If you would prefer a copy of the consultation translated into another language please contact educ-comments@stirling.gov.uk
If you would prefer a copy of the consultation translated into another language please contact
Phases
Feedback
Stirling Council’s Policy for the Organisation of Classes policy was reviewed between September 2022 and December 2022. A group, made up of education officers, parents and experienced headteachers was formed to carry out the review process. Steps within the process included:
- an online consultation via the Engage platform
- an audit of Scottish Local Authority class organisation policies
- consultation with a range of stakeholders through focus groups of parents/carers, pupils, school staff and headteachers
- a review of complaints received by Stirling Council over the last 3 years in relation to the organisation of classes
A consultation report detailing the outcome of the consultation was presented at the Children and Young People Committee on 16 February 2023. A summary of the report is attached.
The Organisation of Classes Policy has been updated as a result of the consultation and was approved by CYP Committee. The updated policy is attached and is also available on the Stirling Council website.
The key points highlighted during the consultation on the Organisation of Classes Policy were as follows:
There was a high level of interest in the consultation, with 674 responses to the online survey, in addition to the parents/carers, staff and pupils who took part in focus groups.
The majority of those who participated in the consultation agreed or strongly agreed with the current criteria for populating composite classes.
The benefit of having clear criteria for the organisation of classes was widely recognised.
The majority of the feedback from the consultation indicated that the use of date of birth as the primary criteria for should continue. Using date of birth is unambiguous and transparent: for the purposes of school provision, age is not a ‘protected characteristic’ in the Equality Act 2010. This means that in relation to the provision of education, schools may lawfully use the criteria of age to organise classes.
Sensitivity should be given to exceptional individual circumstances related to additional support needs, with opportunities for communication between home and school. The overall decision should be made according to policy guidelines and criteria with the final decision resting with the headteacher who has knowledge of all children and families in the school.
Using friendship/social groupings as a key criteria may be open to different, and potentially conflicting, opinions from service users. This was noted across the consultation by a range of stakeholders.
Whilst the highest rated of the alternative criteria suggested, ability or learning groups as a key criteria may be open to different, and potentially conflicting, opinions from service users. This was noted across the consultation by a range of stakeholders.
The current documents require some clarification to ensure ease of understanding for all service users, including more emphasis on how learning is organised in primary classes.
The high level message taken from the information and feedback is that the core principles of the current policy are fair and fit for purpose. As a result of this review, the core principles within the policy remain largely unchanged.
Amendments to the policy reflect the need for consideration of exceptional individual circumstances related to additional support needs, improving clarity for all service users; and reflecting best practice. Key changes include:
Clarification that sensitivity should be given to exceptional individual circumstances, with opportunities for discussion between home and school in relation to additional support needs.
Clarification that the overall decision should be made in line with policy and criteria, with the final decision resting with the headteacher, who has knowledge of all children and families in the school.
Frequently Asked Questions being added to the policy. It was noted that parents/carers would appreciate advice with specific points raised during the consultation.
It was agreed that the following good practice should be in place in schools to ensure the best outcomes for all service users:
Clear and timely communication with parents and learners about class organisation changes and the reasons for them;
Well planned transition programmes carried out prior to any changes to support learners;
Consistency of learning and teaching experiences across year groups;
Continuing opportunities for children to mix across year groups;
Clear information to be shared with parents/carers about the approaches to learning and teaching which will be in place to ensure continued support and challenge for their children.
Updates have been made to the Organisation of Classes Policy to reflect key findings of the consultation.