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Mixed-ability classes have both pros and cons

In life, it is not always possible to group people or students into categories. No matter how the banding is done, there will be pupils with different abilities (Mixed-ability classes may do more harm than good; May 17).

In life, it is not always possible to group people or students into categories. No matter how the banding is done, there will be pupils with different abilities (Mixed-ability classes may do more harm than good; May 17).

Banding has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include promoting competition to push pupils who are doing well to do better.

The disadvantages include lowering the level of diversity. Academically weaker pupils may be strong in other areas, in which academically strong students can learn from them.

By the same token, it is good for the strong and the weak to interact so that the weak can learn from the strong, who can learn to teach and get stronger in the process.

In any case, my experience tells me that the best students are generally independent learners who take the time to understand what they are learning, and are not so dependent on whether they are in the best class.

I agree that teachers play an important role in this process. It is not easy to handle a mixed-ability class; the mindset required is different.

Parents who send their children for tuition to learn ahead have created a kind of expectation of teachers that did not exist in the past.

In my working life, I have learnt to work with both the weak and the strong so as to get the best outcome for all parties. As for success, different people have different definitions of it.

While doing well in school is one aspect, I hope that my children will be continual learners, teachers and experimenters in life.

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