Pupil grouping

Streaming involved the grouping of pupils into classes according to their academic ability. The membership of a streamed class remains the same for all subjects.

Setting allocates pupils to 'sets' according to their ability in particular subjects. A pupil might be in the top set for English but a middle or low set for Maths. Setting recognises that pupils can have different levels of attainment across different subjects.

Banding organises pupils in broad groups for all subjects. A school might organise a year group into upper and lower bands. Pupils might be in different sets within their band but would not be able to experience any lessons outside their band.

There is no setting or banding in my school because it is still growing. All classes are mixed ability. The advantages of this are pupils get to help other pupils who are struggling, the higher achieving pupils set a good example for the others and small groups can be effectively streamed. The disadvantages are that stronger students are slowed down, it is harder for a teacher to pitch a lesson to different levels and students can get frustrated with other students.

Here is a comparison chart of different types of grouping:

 

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Setting	- matching work to learners' need. gaining status and getting a higher grade in tests through being in a high group - allowing for differential attainment in different subjects - minimising behaviour problems. - matching work to learners' needs -raising academic standards, particularly for more able pupils and students - preventing bright pupils and students being inhibited by negative peer pressure - students saw being 'average' as giving protection from teasing and as offering an enjoyable atmosphere which was not too competitive	- many students felt that the work they were given was either too easy or too hard. -  learners being more aware of differences in their performance levels - students in both the lowest and highest sets being stigmatised, teased or called names like 'thick', 'dumb', 'boffin' and 'clever clogs', which many students found upsetting -the pressure of work in the top set and work being too easy in lower sets - not being in the same set as their friends. - learners possibly being given unequal opportunities - stigmatisation of students seen as lower attaining, which teachers saw as having a damaging effect on these students' self-esteem - more discipline problems and disaffection in the lower sets.
Mixed ability	- Students have more positive views of themselves in school - students' relationships with teachers and the school were better as a whole - more students' got on well with all their teachers and saw school as a 'good friend'. - raised the self-confidence of lower attaining students	- lowered the self-confidence of higher attaining students.   - students may be more aware of their performance -