Please click on this link to view/download the complete document: Class Placements- Frequently Asked Questions
Placement of Students in Classes at Burrendah Primary School
Outlined below is the process we use to place students in their respective classes. Please click on the link above for answers to questions that parents may have about class placement. A copy of the Class Placement Policy, which is noted by the School Board, is included as an appendix in the link above. Burrendah Primary School staff are committed to meeting the educational needs of all students. A great deal of thought and planning goes into the placement of every child.
What are the criteria that we use to make up class lists?
Factors influencing how classes are structured are:
- The educational needs of the students;
- the anticipated number of students in each year level;
- projected enrolments during the year based on past trends;
- the number of teachers employed at the school; and
- available resources and facilities.
Factors which are considered in the placement of students include:
- academic performance:
- work habits, such as ability to work independently
- behaviour
- gender
- siblings
- twins
- social network, social maturity; and
- historical data such as previous split year level class.
Parent and carer input regarding their child’s educational needs will be considered if they meet the factors listed above. Requests in relation to choice of teacher will not be considered as a placement factor. Whilst parent and carer input is considered, this does not guarantee a request for a child’s class placement from parents or carers can be met.
The Principal will invite parents/guardians to submit in writing their request for their child’s class placement early November. Parent/guardian input needs to be provided by the date requested. The Principal makes the final decision on class structures and class placement.
What is the process for placing students into classes?
A class structure is decided upon using the factors listed above. Teaching staff and the Leadership Team meet in Term 4 to establish classes for the following school year. Teachers of the current year level meet with their other year level colleagues to create class lists, for example Year 4 teachers develop Year 5 class placements.
Teachers ensure each new class has: a balance of academic ability; a balance of girls and boys and socially balanced groups. Children’s past class placements are also taken into consideration. We try to avoid placing students in split level/composite classes for a consecutive year, if possible, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Specialist teachers then review these class placements and provide further input if needed. Proposed class lists are then submitted to the Leadership Team and then the Principal for final ratification.
9 October 2024
