To Ms. Ide Kelly and the Board of Management of Sallins National School

Petition to pause class restructuring for the school year starting Sept 2023

Given the magnitude of the proposed changes, and the lack of any consulation, the implementation of class mixing should be paused for this year, until appropriate consultation and feedback with the parents council, parents and pupils is performed. It is of great concern that the school has not engaged with parents and pupils on this in a manner that should have been expected. Of greater concern is the schools apparent lack of concern and policy for those vulnerable pupils, with anxiety, socialisation issues, etc particularly post covid.

In particular, the school has not provided any policy or information as below, and consultation around these matters should be sought before any final decision is made. Should the final decision be to implement class mixing, it should be phased in given plenty of notice to classes to be affected (eg a full years notice at minimum), and full policy documentation published before implementation.

Outstanding areas we ask the school to address:

Evidence that routine mixing is more beneficial than the normal non mixed class?

Evidence of the age and frequency that mixing is beneficial for.

Proper consultation and feedback on policy, concerns and ideas from parents AND pupils.

Information on what other alternative measures were considered by the board of management that to achieve the same results regards socialisation and education goals of the mixing (eg mixed sports, PE classes or art activites, small group mixing for certain lessons or actovities, encouraging mixed class playing at break times etc?. And information as to the process of why mixing every few years was chosen over these possible alternatives.

Policy on how new classes will be chosen - random, educational ability,friends grouping etc ?

Policy on what supports are going to be put in place to help transition for vulnerable and at risk pupils, including individual transition plans were appropriate?

Policy on how any newly mixed classes will be monitored to identify any pupils who suffer detrimental impacts from the upheaval caused.

Policy on when mixed classes will be monitored and reviewed, and how evidence will be gathered to support such review.

Policy on how parents/pupils may raise concerns problems post mixing.

Policy on if pupils, despite supports, fails to take well to mixing will they be allow to move to other class/friends group.