when and why did schools rename the years?

[headfairy]

when I started secondary school in 1981 I started in the first year, then I went in to the second year etc, after O levels (remember them?) I went in to lower 6th and then upper 6th for my A levels. I know it's all changed now, secondary starts at year 7 an' all that, but when and why did it happen? Does anyone refer to Y13 (I don't think I've ever heard anyone refer to themselves or anyone else as being in Y13) or are they still upper and lower somethings?

Are we any clearer on this ?

Oh yeah... totally...

hapless housewife, I reckon I must know you!!
Pretty much nowhere did 13+ except our town in Kent.
I also started in 1989 at Grammar, year 3.
By the time we hit sixth form, we became the first year 12 in 1990.

I referred to myself as being Y13 when I was actually that age (17/18) :)

I went from 1st year to year 8 in (I think) September 1990.

We referred to our tutor groups as 8A, 8B and so on, but informally everyone said second year, third year and so on.

At the time it seemed no weirder than having to think in metres and kilograms in science classes, but pounds and ounces/feet and inches in 'real life'!