The pupils in our school are each placed into a Family Group. As well as being assigned a class for curriculum purposes the children are divided into 12 family groups. Each group is headed by one adult and contains a spread of children from youngest to oldest. Each family is composed of about 12 children and has a number of purposes.
First and foremost they are designed to build upon the 'family' feel of the school. This is the sense of a small village school where relationships between children are both strong and cross the age boundaries. Our family grouping both encourages the children to play together and also to care for one another. It also cultivates, in the oldest children, a sense of duty and responsibiltiy towards the youngest.
Each family group meets together on a rolling programme throughout the year. On average they meet once per half term, though it may be more. The meetings usually last for 3/4 of an hour or so and take a number of different forms. Some are used simply to talk to one another, others for board games and some to seek children's views. The final meeting of the year is used to sign cards welcoming the new starters to the family group. In the first meeting of the year, each child makes a decorated name badge which is added to the family cross in the school hall. This reminds the children that they are in a family in the school and also that they are in God's family.
Our children tell us that they look forward to the meetings and that they enjoy spending time with their family.