A GROUP of parents are annoyed their children are moving class away from some of their friends.

Parents of children at St Saviour's School in Verulam Avenue, Walthamstow, received letters telling them that several children would switch class in each year group at the start of next term in order to create a 'balance of abilities'.

It is the first time the voluntary-aided school has taken the step since it became a two-class intake school last year and a small group of parents claim it will be disruptive.

Christina Nawab, of Lyndhurst Drive, Leyton, said her six-year-old daughter, Ckyra, is worried about the change.

She said: “This morning my daughter was crying because she doesn't want to move. She won't be with her friends from nursery.

“Parents are worried that the children will be disrupted and we are wondering why just five or six children are moving from each class."

She added: “Considering we were told they wouldn't be affected by the two-class intake, we feel they have.”

Parent Nadisha Terumalai, 25, of Boundary Road, Walthamstow, said: “Parents are upset that every year there are changes disrupting the children.

"They have taken in lots of kids who are new to the area.

“Also, if there had been more information about the changes it would have been better.”

The parents say that they would have liked more information about the change.

A group of them met with the headteacher last week who explained the reasons behind the changes.

Headteacher Amy Hoare told the Guardian: “We are trying to maximise the learning environment for the children.

"Teachers look at both forms of entry and try to get an even balance of ability and behaviour and make sure there is no unfair advantage.

“We also want them to have a large friendship group so that when they go to a larger school they are not traumatised by it.

“But I am defending what other schools do as a matter of course. And it is only ten parents out of 120 who have expressed concern.”

Miss Hoare said she was dismayed by concerns raised by parents about their children mixing with pupils for whom English is their second language and said there is an English Language Assistant (ELA) working with them so other pupils are not affected.

She said: “We had difficulties when we took in a bulge year group, many of whom were Eastern European families, and had to write to parents and say that as a Christian school we will welcome all children and won't tolerate racism.”

She added that it should have been made “more implicit” that this new system could happen and said she apologised to parents about this and would be making it clearer from now on.

St Saviour's School has agreed to take on an extra 210 pupils by 2013, and teachers and governors won a campaign to ensure that promised funding for new buildings was secured by the council.