Flexible school admissions

[tequilacream]

Hello - I am researching delaying my summer born by a year (primary school), but wanted to see what experiences have people had at secondary school level having successfully deferred at primary school stage.

I am debating the deferral in case we find ourselves having to miss a year of education on secondary school entry....

"(...) If your child does start school later, they will of course finish primary school out of their normal age group too. It's up to the admission authority for the secondary school then to decide whether they are willing to accept that child to begin year 7 (in most authorities) at age 12 rather than the normal age 11." - as found on Mumsnet (but also on LA's website in response to my question about deferring.

With the above in mind - can anyone share experiences beyond primary school? Especially having successfully applied to defer your child at primary school - how are secondary schools approaching it?

[merlottime]

Someone at my daughter's primary who repeated reception due to SEN had to skip Y6 and rejoin his age group at secondary in Year 7. This is a London borough.

[t4gnut]

Most local authorities have taken advice that the child moves with their chronological age group, not the year they join. Advice also stresses they have to listen to requests to defer but there is no obligation to do so.

[panimac]

Thank you. Will be asking my local secondary schools what they do.

[Essexmum69]

You may also want to consider whether you are in a county that is fully comprehensive or if you have selective schools as many selective schools do not allow "over age pupils" to sit 11 plus exams. I have also heard of people having difficulty getting sixth form places for 17 year olds so this is another consideration.
A friend has managed to keep both her August born sons delayed throughout their school career but only by going private to a school that catered for ages 4 to 18 so no school changes were required.