Australia education

[Whatkatyforgottodo]

I’m asking for advice for my sister who has recently moved to Australia. My niece is in year 1 there (would be in year 2 in the UK). She’s a fairly bright girl and has found that she is quite a way ahead of her peers in Australia. My sister has discussed with the head of the school, the possibility of moving my niece up a year. Has anyone got any experience of this and any advice I can share with her? Thanks.

I would wait it out tbh. We have been in Sydney for 15 years and have heard so many new arrivals say the same about their kids - the focus in the early years can be different so usually by the time they are in Y3-4 the “super bright” kid is just average, they just started younger (for example my eldest started school in England aged 4, my daughter started in Aus the month she turned 6). Being the youngest in a year can be a real disadvantage socially in high school, especially by Y11/12 when their peers are all driving and then turning 18 earlier. In NSW anyway there can often be an age range of nearly two years in a year group. If your sister is adamant she wants her moved up then best talk to private schools who tend to be more flexible, but the better ones would dissuade her for the reasons above.

Thank you. That’s really helpful and I’ll pass your advice on to my sister!

DD1 was moved up a year after just a few weeks at school. She hated being the youngest of the year, would lie on her age, not allow any candles on birthday cake when friends were over, and the worst was when she started uni and all her friends and fellow students were out socialising and in bars, and she couldn't go as underaged.

I think in the end, it backfired.

There are special classes called opportunity classes or selective school and depending on which type of visa your sister is on, she might apply to those. We couldn't because we were on a temporary visa.

I wouldn’t do it. It’s going to be really hard on the kid when they’re a year smaller than the rest and especially when puberty hits and they’re a year (sometimes two) behind all the rest it will be difficult socially. Even if they’re not outright bullied they just won’t fit in with the other girls who are ahead of them physical development wise if not in actual education standard.

I’m in Australia, my grandchildren recently moved here from the UK. If deciding to advance a child a year you need to be cognisant of the fact that it is compulsory to start school the year you turn 6. You are able to start school if you turn 5 before July - the middle of the school year here.
Many parents keep there children back if their birthdays fall between January
July so there is often an 18 month age range in any class.
I have observed that whilst my grandchildren, who are in primary school, were ahead to start after a year or so it levelled out. The social aspect of being in your age group should not be overlooked. The school should be able to offer extension work if required.