Can someone explain UK school years to me?

[TuesdayJulyNever]

Have I got this right?

Reception is age 4.
Then years 1-6 are primary.
Then age 11 is the start of secondary and that’s year 7?
How many years of secondary school are there, and which ones are exam years?

And is it the same in NI, Scotland, Wales and England?

I’m always mildly befuddled on threads where dc are described by their school year rather than their age.

I think it can be really useful to put both:

4 year old, in Reception vs 4 year old, still in nursery.

11 year old in Y6 vs 11 year old in Y7 in secondary school.

The distinctions are useful in terms if experience, expectations, challenges etc.

Aw that’s tricky. It’s hard if they find it too difficulty, but you don’t want children getting frustrated if the materials are too easy for them. There’s still so much difference at that age!
I’ve known some kids staring primary with fully developed speech, and others staring primary who I’ve struggled to understand!

Good points!

No, not all schools work like that
Some areas have middle schools in the UK

I think it is much better to put something like DD13, rather than DDY9 or Y8 or S2

I remember being amazed how different my step kids were from primary 7 to first year at secondary school! (And one was still only 11).
but it is like they turned into teenagers over the summer ! They grew too!
how could they look like little primary kids and then a few weeks later look like almost adult size teens lol

Although should be DD(13) to distinguish from DD13 which would be your 13th daughter rather than your 13 year old daughter!

So pretty much exactly what I said @alyceflowers

'Reception' is part of EYFS. It's EYFS. 🤷🏽‍♀️

My niece was the opposite. Also birthday mid Feb & started at 4. She was the youngest in the school for P1 & proud of it 😂

Certainly did her no harm but she was really ready for school & another year of nursery would have stifled her

Scotland is different.

Nursery school (not to be confused with day care nursery) , age 3 and 4
There is one "cut off birth date" for primary school application, late February.

Primary 1, starts the following August. Parents can choose if their February/March born child enters Primary1 at age four and a half or five and a half. The whole age range starts in August and will share the same class for their entire education so "summer baby" angst is non existent .

Primary school lasts 7 years.
Leave primary at the end of Primary 7; when most will be age 12.
Secondary school lasts 6 years.
All state secondary schools are comprehensive and co-ed. National examinations in years 4, 5 and 6

Its possible to enter Scottish universities from Year 5. Scottish degree courses last 4 years.

Pupils may stay for 6 yrs (another round of exams, more intensive) especially if heading for universities ourside Scotland; or for highly competitive university courses.

I can’t decide whether I’m now more or less confused 😂

Can anyone explain what academies are?

Can anyone explain what academies are?

Academies are a disaster waiting to happen.

In the olden days, schools were run by the local authorities. LEAs. Now, some are and some are academies which are no longer under LEA control. They are run privately. They don't have to employ qualified teachers and can pay their heads and 'directors' a billion pounds instead.

Disclaimer. This may be a biased view.

Absolutely it needs to be a decision based on the individual child. But so many on MN think people should defer just because they can.

State funded, privately run schools.