How to make mixed-ability groups in class

Last updated 9 October 2026

Groups that mix strengths, keep the right pupils apart and never leave anyone feeling picked last.

What a good group looks like

A good working group has a spread of strengths, at least one pupil who can get it started, nobody who will be left out, and no pairing you know will end in an argument. You usually know all of this already. The hard part is holding it in your head for thirty children at once.

Write down what you are balancing

Pick two or three things, no more:

  • Attainment, as a simple band such as 1 to 3.
  • Something you want spread out, such as year group in a mixed class, or the pupils who will lead.
  • Who works well together, and who doesn’t. Keep these as a short list of pairs.

You set these. Pupils never see them.

Avoid “picked last”

Letting pupils choose their own groups, or picking in front of the class, makes someone the last choice. Make the groups yourself, then reveal them all at once. To the class, everyone was simply put in a group.

Change groups often

Fixed groups harden. Mixing them every few weeks means pupils work with most of the class over a term, and no group becomes “the clever table”.

Doing it with Draftastic

  1. Start a draft and choose School. Only first names are used, there is no chat, joining needs the class code, and children’s names are never sent to AI.
  2. Paste your class list, and add your questions, such as an attainment band. Set them so only you can see the answers.
  3. Add “Keep apart” and “Keep together” rules for the pairs you have in mind.
  4. Choose Deal. Draftastic balances the bands, spreads what you asked it to and keeps your rules. Move anyone by hand if you know better.
  5. Reveal the groups on the board when you are ready, all at once.

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Try it

Draftastic is free. You can start a draft without an account, and people join on their phones with a code.

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