Prep school entrance - putting child back a year?

[Azure]

DS1 has a late August birthday. He will be sitting 8+ entrance exams in around 18 months time if we continue down this route (he's not going to try the 7+ entries next year). I am concerned at him being the youngest in the year etc and would rather he were the oldest for several reasons, including self-confidence. Does anyone have any experience of putting a child back at year at this stage, i.e. sitting for 7+ entrance even though technically entitled to 8+? Would an independent school allow this?

[snorkle]

Talk to the schools concerned. They may or may not be amenable. I'm not entirely sure that it's a good idea myself - by this stage the differences between the ages is getting less, and the damage to self confidence may be greater by being 'held back'. I tend to think it's being youngest in the early years that's most troublesome.

[LIZS]

I know of one child who is doing this next year ,effectively repeating Year 2, but he is dyslexic and struggles academically. There are associated issues such as him playing for the appropriate aged sports teams long term. The assessments used by our school (P{IPS and CATs) incoprprate an adjustment for age. How old is he now, almost 6 perhaps ? ds ' friends are August b'days and definitely not struggling (will be Year 5) so the picture can change over time.

[Azure]

Thanks for that - we're just thinking about all the options for DS1 at the moment. I feel sad for DS1 being the youngest at everything - unfortunately he's increasingly aware of other children in his class being more advanced than him, even though he does well at his own level.

[Azure]

Lizs, yes he's almost 6. Interesting you've both mentioned about things improving with time. Maybe I'm over-anxious.

[LIZS]

dd is end of August(still 5 but goes into Year 2 soon) and physically looks much younger, eprhasp tempermentally too comapred to the septmeber kids but she is happy and academically fine . If she were my first, and a boy, I'd probably worry more. If he is academically ok then it is likely he'll happily fall within the range for his age apporpriate year.

[LIZS]

Sorry spelling gone to pot

[Carbonel]

The Headmaster at my dc's old school always tried to put Aug boys in the year below, so it is well worth talking to the individual schools to see what their policy is.

[Anchovy]

One of DS's best mates has a late August birthday and dropped down into DS's class mid year (from Yr 1 to Reception - private school). There were quite a few boys - including DS - in the year he dropped into with early birthdays, so he was not significantly older than them. Interestingly DS's mate was 6-8 weeks premature, although you cannot tell physically or developmentally alongside the other children, but I do not know if it has any impact (I don't know the child well, but this is from watching him with Ds and other boys in the class). His mother is German and is used to a system where he would not even be at school till he was older, so I suspect was a bit perplexed with the whole UK system.

Anyway the "dropped down" child has thrived in the new class - he seems to have settled in really well and has plenty of friends and his mother said they were all thrilled and delighted with the decision and it was a huge benefit to him.

[Azure]

Many thanks for all your input. I think I'll have a chat with DS1's head teacher in the Autumn term and get her perspective - also that of the schools in mind.

[Ladymuck]

The dcs prep school do put a small number of pupils either ahead or behind the year that they're meant to be in. The sports team issue is lessened in the prep school as all boys have games at the same times, so if sporty he can be put with the age-appropriate team. The main issue is that once you have put him back a year he will most likely have to stick with this at senior school which almost certainly leaves you looking at private schools again.

Our prep school doesn't take SATs and therefore doesn't appear in any league tables. If the school does appear in league tables they may be less keen as the league tables do look at the exact ages of the children, not which year they are in.

[Quattrocento]

Sticking your child behind a year is not an especially desirable solution IME. Any more than sticking your child ahead a year. The differences within the year group iron out over time.

BTW surely entry at 8 is more restricted? The main entry is at 7 at ours.

[LIZS]

At ours too Quattrocento. ds was among 10 or more new into Year 3 (7+) but only 2 have joined between then and the end of Year 4, with one due to come in at Year 5 .

[singersgirl]

Some prep schools insist that children's birthdays fall between certain dates to make them eligible for the 7+ or 8+ (usually the standard school 1/09 - 31/08). This might not apply to all schools, but I guess you'd need to check before moving your son.