Multi Age Classes and Stage Based Learning

In Multi Age classes, students are drawn from two or more age levels to form one class. Multi Age classes are a response to a developmental approach to teaching and learning.
This developmental approach groups students according to educational, social and developmental needs rather than just age or year level.
Emerging research indicates that multi age grouping, when implemented well, provides both educational and social benefits.
Of the 191 classes across the 63 schools involved in the pilot, 50 were Multi Age classes.  
Many comments by teachers and principals about the 2003 Class Size Pilot indicate that the reduction in class size resulted in increased individual instruction, assistance and feedback.
This increase in individual instruction is conducive to Multi Age classes and a developmental approach to teaching and learning.
Almost 30% of principals involved in the pilot indicated that they formed Multi Age classes to facilitate stage based learning.
of individual academic needs."

Craig Levings, principal of Hammondville Public School implemented a Multi Age class as part of the 2003 Class Size Pilot.
"Friendship groups, maturity, independence, student knowledge and observable student skills were all analysed carefully before formation of the class took place" Craig commented.
"These are strategies that we always carry out when developing not only multi age classes but also for the formation of main stream classes."
"The reduction in class size had a positive impact on our K/1 multi age class. It allowed for more time for individual student attention and faster analysis

Multi Age Classes in NSW (PDF 192kB)