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Groupings and reasons for grouping: summary

All teachers were fully consulted about grouping decisions in all schools during the three years of the project, even though the initial decision had, in one case, been imposed.

In the first year all schools taught year 7 in all-attainment4 groups, with various amounts of enthusiasm by staff. In SP this continued through year 8, and dissent of some individual teachers changed to enthusiasm once they could see the results and felt better able to teach that way. In year 9 the 7 classes were split into two year halves with the highest and lowest achieving students in special groups in each half, leaving three parallel middling groups. In LS everyone teaching year 7 was enthusiastic about all-attainment grouping, but on shifting to year 8 there was less support. The final decision was to identify high-achieving students and a group who needed more support but other groups would be parallel. In FH year 8 a similar pattern was adopted to that of SP with 7 classes in two 'halves' which effectively led to complete setting in one year half.