Year group ...what is the rule?

[smilesandsun]

Hi all,

We're moving and considering going to a state school from independent. My ds started school late (when we moved to UK, almost a year late) and is an end Aug birthday so he was placed in the young year at his school. We want to move to state schools but it seems they want to put him a year ahead.

Can anyone enlighten me on the rule here? I'm not asking for him to repeat a year, but for him to jump a year seems a very difficult task...

Would love to hear any thoughts.

So is it that he was held back a year and now the state school wants him to be in the year where he should have been. I'm confusing myself

yes, he would have done a few weeks in reception only so he was started in the younger year group now they want to just up a year group

The rule in state schools is that you start in the year you turn 5, and the cut-off point is 31 August. This means that your ds would be among the youngest in his class. It is almost impossible to change this in state schools (the exception being for twins born on, say 31 Aug and 1 Sep).

Which year group is he in in his independent school, which would he be in his state school, and how old is he now?

So he's just turned 5 and they want to put him in Y1?

he is in 3 and would be in 4 by his birthdate. Unlucky that he was born 3 days too early... I don;t see how he can miss a year of learning though.

Yes, state schools put pupils in the defined age groups for that year. It's slightly different in Scotland, but assuming you're elsewhere in UK then he will go into the normal year group by age if you stick with this move.

So if he turned 5 in August he will go into year 1.

Being out of the normal year group may have caused problems when you got to secondary schools transfer anyhow. Even in the independent sector where there is greater flexibility, not all schools will accept pupils out of their year group. So if you stay with your current school, factor this in, as he might have to skip year 6 instead, or you could be left in a black hole if you miss the normal age entry point.

So he has just started Y3 in independent, and the state school want him to go into Y4?

Sorry, crossed with your last about age.

Some independents say they are working one or two years ahead of state equivalents. What does yours claim? For if they do say that, and if it's true, then the gap might be less than you fear.

Yes, that's what I was thinking, too.

I think you need to tell us how old he actually is and what year group he was in and will be in! This is very confusing otherwise!

When was he born?

he's been in independent since reception so I guess I will need to speak to the schools and see what it would mean in terms of the gap in learning.

the cut off date is pretty hard to change, but given your situation, some schools my be willing to negotiate. The thing is though, that even if your primary school will, your secondary may not.

Go in and talk to them. FWIW rather than say you moved independent to state, talk about how you returned from overseas, and this was a solution offered by previous school.

thanks steppemum, your statement at the end is correct as this was the advice we were given on arrival in UK by our schools advisor.

I don't think they will do anything other than put your son into the normal designated year group, due to the potential knock-on effect later in his school career. There will be a range of abilities within the class and once teaching staff get to know him, work will be set to reflect your son's level of attainment. You'll find it reassuring to talk to the schools you're considering.

If they start a year late they are still in yr1, even if they happen to the only Yr1 pupil in a class mixed with reception. So sounds like he was never actually in reception at all. Do you have any paperwork saying what year he was put in when he started school?

I hope so Brecon, we just want to make the right choice for him.

There are two children out of year that I know of in DD's private school. Both children are a few days on the 'wrong' side of the cut off. Sounds like the independent school your DS started at offered flexibilty as he was new to the country and very young.

My understanding is state school in England cannot offer flexibility - you go into the correct year for your age.