Moving countries & changing school years (France-UK)

[FluffyDonkey]

Hello
I know this will sound crazy as we're still in the planning stage of TTC so are planning things well in advance, but we were wondering about which months are "best" to be born in, if you're a child of French / British parents who may move countries whilst you're still at school?

We currently live in Paris, and are planning on having children here. I know the school year intake in France is Jan-Dec whereas in the UK it's Sept - Aug.

(French) DH is pushing for a baby born August to December, cos he says it's an advantage being one of the youngest in the year whereas I know that in the UK Sept - Dec babies are the oldest in the year....

What concerns me is that during their schooling there is a chance we might move to the UK. Nothing planned, but you never know. I am concerned that if a child is born Sept-Dec then by moving to the UK they will effectively be held back a year in schooling.

Is this true? Could we push for the child not to be "held back"? Because a baby born in November in France does the BAC aged 17, but in the UK would do his/her A levels aged 18.

Not to mention the minefield it is with children in France being able to skip a year ahead.

I know that we can't really pick and choose when a baby is born, but I would like some advice, because I'm thinking it would be "safer" to aim to a Jan - Aug birth...

[overthemill]

in uk babies born in august or early sept go to school almost a year ahead of others my sister is a teacher and she says it is really obvious for the first few years who are the oldest kids in the class.

[pinkhousesarebest]

Gosh, I am amazed anyone could think it an advantage to be born at the end of the year and find it to be an advantage in the French system. I am a primary school teacher in France and find younger children really struggle, especially in the early years.

Ours both have March birthdays, and it has been great for them, if that is any help. Good luck!

[FluffyDonkey]

Thanks for your replies.

Thing is, both of us were the "babies" of the year in our respective countries and never felt penalised for this.

I think DH also thinks of it also in terms of being "ahead" when you're older. For instance, a friend of his is a year younger than he is (she skipped a year of school when she was 4 or 5ish) yet is has the same seniority at work...

My main concern is the potential effect of changing countries and being put in a year below.

The ideal would be a March - July birth but best laid plans etc....

[ViveLaFrak]

I'm planning a Feb-July baby (best laid plans...) to allow for early/late arrival!

It's the UK - France move that's potentially problematic as you have to jump a year and the system is much more rigid.

If you go France - UK it's easier to jump a year, especially if you argue that they've been a year ahead the whole time but there's a whole range of skills in the UK system which aren't evident in French education from an early age, particularly soft skills, that they may benefit from picking up. An adaptation year won't hurt them.

Also I don't particularly want a 2.9 yo going to maternelle as that's just too young for my liking. My (English) friend living here has a December baby and it's mad to think her little one, who is still very little, is going to school in just over a year.

Plus factor in bilingualism (assuming you're planning to) which, whilst it doesn't cause massive language delay, may not be looked upon particularly favourably if you have an only just verbal Dec born child entering maternelle at 2.9.

[castille]

I know a family who moved back to the UK and succeeded in having their DD accepted into a state school sixth form a year early as she is mature, exceptionally bright and had done very well in France, but I doubt that is the norm unless you go private.

[Bonsoir]

My French-English bilingual DD is a November baby and, while she goes to a bilingual school that is relatively sympathetic to the slight language delay that bilinguals have, I still think it is tough on her to be one of the little ones and one of the small minority who don't have French as their first language (her first language is English). Thank goodness she is a physically robust child who doesn't need a lot of sleep and is well able to keep her end up in the motor skills department. And that is just luck!

Plan a March/April baby!