To wish people would just say their child's age

[kaytee87]

Not a taat but about many threads. In lots of threads the op will say things like Year 5 or KS whatever to describe the child's age and I don't have a clue what they're talking about as the schooling system is not the same the U.K. (or indeed the world) over.
AIBU to wish people would just put the child's age?

I agree. I'm in Scotland and while I can work it out of someone puts year 5, it isn't instant as it would be if they just wrote the age. It makes a much easier read.

I think MN HQ should provide a ready reckoner at the top of the page.

Sometimes age is relevant, sometimes school year and sometimes key transition points.

eg Scottish DC go spend 6 years at secondary school but English DC spend 7. Y13 is equivalent to S6, but Uni decisions in Scotland are mostly based on S5 results. S4 and Y11 are equivalent as are Nat 5s and GCSEs (almost everyone asking advice about transfer from one to other seems to think GCSEs are equivalent to Nat 6 / Higher).

Most people seem to think YR is equivalent to P1 but actually the equivalence is with Y1. English DC spend a year longer in school than Scottish DC.

Uni decisions in Scotland are mostly based on S5 results

I never knew this! May be a bit of a problem for DD. I wonder why her school have never mentioned it. They have done a lot of university prep work.

I find it annoying too.

I'm in Scotland- I have no idea what year 2 or year 6 means.

It's like when someone says DS9 and you have no idea if the child is 9 or he's their ninth son.

People don't "understand the Scottish system" if they think that Reception is the same as Primary 1 though. The very youngest child starting reception could be 4 and a couple of days old. The very youngest child starting P1 would be at the very last 4 years and almost 6 months old.

There's a 6 month crossover in ages at intake so there is no exact comparison.

I know this confuses a lot of non-Scottish folk so would always explain - would say "my DD is 13 and has just started her second year of secondary in Scotland". It takes brain effort for me to work out what "year 10" or whatever means. I have no clue what year children are in when they do GCSE, for example.

So yes, it would be much easier if people would just state their child's age. If it's a particularly school rated query, then the school year might be relevant. Usually it's not.

“If it's a particularly school rated query, then the school year might be relevant.“

I totally get why you’d say the school year if it’s at all about school.

But (I’m making this up btw) yr 10 DS wants to get a bus to x place to meet friends for example.

I’m having to go, 10? 14? 15? That is secondary school? Right?...

I know!!! I’m on a lot of international Facebook groups about kids with ADHD and OCD and all the Americans refer to juniors, seniors, freshman and sophomores. They never just say the kids’ ages!

In in Southern Ireland and haven’t a clue what they mean either . Do children start school really young in the UK ? Here’s its 4.5-5.5 and do 7 years of primary / junior ? School before moving to secondary school aged 12-13.3 for 5 years .
Maybe someone can explain it

There is an easy way to work it out . If a child is in Year 1 you add on 5 and know that they will be 6 by the end of August. Or if you know that a child is going to be 12 by the end of August you take away 5 and know that they are in year 7. Its a blunt instrument but it works :) Don't know if there is clever maths for Scotland (I say clever maths, adding and subtracting 5 is about my level)

@fluffythefish how do you know whether to add or subtract though

You add 5 to the school year to get the age and subtract 5 from the age to get the school year. If you can’t remember which way round to do it then it normally becomes pretty obvious if you’ve done it wrong, becauwe children are unlikely to be eg taking SATS tests at the age of minus three.

I'm in NI

I was always very confused about "reception" - we just have P1 here

You add 5 to the school year to get the age and subtract 5 from the age to get the school year. If you can’t remember

That's a handy way to remember it. But why on earth use a system of stating the school year and requiring a calculation rather than just stating the age in the first place?

I’m in Scotland and find the whole year thing in England confusing, and I don’t want put to learn it as it’s not relevant to me. Just put an age down and tag in school year if you really think it’s relevant!

English DC spend a year longer in school than Scottish DC.

But that's not strictly true.

Scotland has " pre- school " nursery, not quite the same as reception, but then neither is P1.

Reception tends to be still a lot of play based learning, P1 is down to hard tacks of reading and writing.

I agree! I find it weird that you would identify your child by what stage they are in the school system. Aren’t they people? It’s weird

@PrimalLass - I was going to say exactly the same thing. Especially when people do it with very low numbers, I don't have a clue.

Also, dare I say that, for posting purposes, it quite often makes no difference to other MNers what position in your family your child holds. If you're upset about something that happened to your 8yo DD in school, why on earth does it matter (except in a few particular scenarios) whether she's your only child, has 3 younger/older siblings or whatever?

bus assuming DC are doing Scottish exams rather than A levels?

assuming DC are doing Scottish exams rather than A levels?

Yes. But we were not aware university decisions were based on S5 results. School have always said doing a mix of higher and Nat5's over S5 and more highers in S6 was normal. I have an S6 pupil who is about to apply to uni and we were never told she needed the highers in S5

“ I have an S6 pupil who is about to apply to uni and we were never told she needed the highers in S5”

Depends on the uni and course.... some want the highers all in one year, so it’s really S5 that counts.

It annoys me no end.

I just close the thread tbh. Can't be arsed with that.

There was a poster once who said her DC was "72 months" MNers did call her out on that tbf. I mean, really?

I didn't know. Too late now I suppose.

I will be taking this up with school on Monday morning though. Pupils and parents should know this information. I guess we should have found out for ourselves, but it's basic stuff you would have expected to be included in the uni workshops.

Urgh.

School year is relevant when discussing anything school related, or sometimes non school related when the child is near a key transition point. An 11 year old in year 6 may have different expectations placed on them than an 11 year old in year 7.

“I didn't know. Too late now I suppose.”

Tbh if you and your DD didn’t know, it’s probably not relevant to the courses she’s looking at, because it’s listed in the entry requirements if it is.