moving up from year 3 to year 5 - but he is happy where he is

[Fear]

Help, my son is in year 3, but doing GCSE maths course after school because he loves maths, and he recently did his year 6 sats in English and got a grade 5, which is average score for a 13 year old I believe. He is happy where he is with his age group - so should I push the school to put him up a year? Up to now they have said no, too immature, but he has grown up a lot now he is in the Jnrs. I don't want to rock the boat - do I wait until he is yelling "I'm bored" or do I ask to push him along now.

[AMumInScotland]

I don't think its a good idea to push children up to higher years, because however well they are maturing, they will still always be a year, or 2 years, younger than their peers - all of whom are also busy maturing over time.

My siste ended up in the year above her age, and it was always a problem when her classmates were allowed to do things she wasn't allowed yet, or when they were going through puberty and she was nowhere near it.

i think you'd be setting him up for an unhappy life, and would be better trying to keep him in the right age group.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

If he is happy you should certainly leave him - the academics can be catered for with you and the school working together but the social side cannot be sorted out so easily. And if the secondary school refuses to take him early - and I know this is the case in my local authority - he will have to repeat year 6, which will be the worst of all worlds.
Concentrate on extending him within his own year group. FWIW, my eldest DD was level 5 in English in Year 4 and her teachers always managed to extend her satisfactorily - as they did with a couple of children in her class who were G&T at maths.(Her secondary school however is a different story ) If the school is clued up they will be able to work with your son without having to skip a year, and if they are not then skipping a year will make no difference.

[munstersmum]

Scroll down this link to grade-skipping for an expert view (not mine!)

www.joanfreeman.com/faq.php

[Fear]

Thanks all, you've confirmed that the school is right to advise not to skip a year - thanks for your opinions. I'm lucky our school is being so flexible so far within his year group, although with a class of 30 personalities its not so easy for the teacher to give individual attention. Also, my gut feeling was if it aint broke dont fix it - if he's happy boy where he is and still loves learning why move him a year. thanks!