The pupils of Tiffin Boys’ School have been told that next year new types of classes will be introduced. From next year, forms will consist of students from different years meeting at form periods, so that a pupil from year 7 will be in the same class as a year 11. Many consider this to be a radical new idea and completely experimental but many other schools such as Glyn already work under vertical tutoring and are prospering from it , according to the teachers. Shervin, a student at Glyn said ‘ Vertical tutoring just decreases inter year relations as year elevens get angry at the fact they are with such younger pupils and take it out on them’. However, teachers have a very different view as they say ‘it increases communications throughout the school and decreases hostility’. With the added factor of a new independent study programme being recently put into action, pupils are taking a ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’ attitude. The Tiffin school council has already had two meetings to discuss vertical tutoring with class representatives making it clear that their forms did not like the idea. Although the council may not be able to prevent the plan going ahead they are hoping to alter it enough to satisfy the pupils. There have been calls for a trial period to see whether it would work and establish the pros and cons of the approach. The scheme was only mentioned to the school on Friday 21st November so a lot of the details are still to be developed further. Vertical tutoring may not be a major issue as students only spend an hour and a half each week in form time. However, it could mean giving up precious time spent forging friendships between pupils of the same age, same maturity, same interests and same curriculum.