Skipping a year

[GreenMarigold]

My daughter is currently in y1 and her school is talking about her skipping a year as she displayed ‘deep understanding’ when she took some y2 tests.

The teacher said she’d struggle to keep up with her learning needs next year as reception, 1 and 2 are taught in the same classroom (it’s a small school).

Obviously it’s lovely that she is doing so well but I’m not sure socially that she’s ready to go up a year and be away from her friends.

Has anyone got any experience of skipping a year? Good or bad.

There are 5-8 children in a year

I wouldn’t be happy with this suggestion. Unless your child is an actual child genius, it sounds like they’re just doing what would be easiest for them instead of providing proper extension work.

It must already be very difficult for them to cater for three year groups within one class but that doesn’t mean your dd should be taken away from her peers. They need to do what it takes to cater to her needs within her year group.

I'm impressed they manage to run three classes then!

With those small numbers they might be looking at grouping similar ability together not just age, especially if she works mainly with the Yr2 group now.

Is this not already happening?

I can't imagine any state school discussing a child skipping a year, as it's hugely detrimental and in my opinion there are no positives. However if they're not even offering extended learning opportunities or differentiated work then I would consider moving schools sooner rather than later, as that should have been happening way before any discussions on moving year groups.

If she would be spending the whole of next school year not progressing then I would move her up. To have all years together may make her regress by staying with her present class. I would trust the school. It may be she will slow down with her progression in year 3 and stay in the year so be back in her normal class.
they sound a good school to have noticed and being prepare to do what most schools wouldn’t.

I didn't end up skipping a year, though it was suggested.

I kind of wish I had in some ways. My social relationships weren't really normal in the class I was in - just being the same age isn't always enough. I was reading more, interested in other things, just somehow more like a big sister to those in the class in the early years - they came to me for help or I was put in the role of helping when I'd finished my work etc, which undoubtedly taught me some good skills but also meant that I had a very different relationship with them. In some ways, I might have been better with the year above as it would have been more equal as peers. I was one of the oldest in my year though. In older years, though, I don't know what would have been best - I didn't really fit in anywhere, was scared of growing up, teenage things, etc, so probably wouldn't have wanted to be with the older years who were getting closer to that, but I didn't want it when I got to that age either so maybe it wouldn't have mattered!

I don't know what the right solution is, but I do find that people overlook the fact that being academically way ahead can also change peer relationships and social skills in the class and make it harder, so simply saying that an advanced child should stay with their age for social reasons doesn't always solve things.

they sound a good school to have noticed and being prepare to do what most schools wouldn’t.

Most schools wouldn't do it because it's not in the best interests of the child.

I have never heard of this in a school, except for many years ago. I've had many pupils score almost full marks in a majority of their year 2 (and year 6) tests. It's not uncommon amd a good teacher should be able to challenge such pupils with differentiated questioning, tasks etc.

I think you are right to be hesitant, particularly because she is not that old in the year, and it's a mixed class. She will be 6 months younger than anyone and 2.5 years younger than some. That would put pressure on socially. Plus she might miss the fun of being year 2 and being the oldest.

I would look to keep her in the class and stretch her. Maybe it would be appropriate to join the older class for some things but remain a year 2.

I spoke to a friend recently who was accelerated in a private school. She has an Oct birthday and is mid 30s now. It went fine for her but she wishes it hadn't happened.

In classes that small there is really no excuse for not arranging extension work for her. Presumably the Yr and reception kids aren't doing the same work? My daughter is in Year 1 and has been identified as gifted by her teacher. She's been given different English and maths work (in a class of 27). If your daughter is really gifted, going up a year won't make that much difference. If she's just ahead, they should be able to cater for her within the existing set-up. If not, the issue is the school, not the year group.

I think in a small school this is a much more nuanced situation than many posters are appreciating. When she is yr 2, she'll be in a class with the new reception children as well. The yr 3-4 class will all be children that she has been in a class with before. Socially - who does she currently mix with most? What will happen as she goes up the school, are numbers growing or shrinking or stable?

In the OP's shoes I would aim for a careful discussion with the school, to include not just why going up next year would be a good idea (academically and/or socially), but also, what might happen the following years, how she can be further extended if necessary when older, what choices would exist for secondary transition.

I was a child recommended to skip yr 2 as I was changing schools. I was young in the year but tall enough that no-one would have batted an eyelid if we'd "put my age up" on the paperwork! Socially I generally got along better with children 2 yrs older than me, during primary. I was at uni before I found fitting in was the default instead of sticking out. For me, moving up a year could have made my childhood significantly better.

Going even further back, my mother was in a small primary school that was ultimately closed I think at the end of year 4. Where they moved to, she was surprised to be placed in a class without her friends, and then learned very little new for the next two years.

I think we could do with more flexibility within the school system, as long as that included the flexibility for older children/teenagers to widen their subject base in lieu of moving on in order for emotional maturity to catch up when needed.

In terms of homework I’m not sure how what she gets differs from others. I know she brings home harder books to read than those who are on book bands but homework is otherwise pretty minimal - 10 spellings and 1 sheet of maths a week.

In general the school approach is to really focus their learning in school with a slightly longer school day and try not to give onerous homework. They want children to have them to have plenty of time outside of school for interests and spending time with friends and family.

I know she’s been given extended learning tasks within the classroom in the past but maybe more could be done here.

Thank you for your comment, you make some really good points and I will be taking those to the school when discussing plans for next year. You are right - the main concern for the teacher I think is balancing her needs with the needs of potentially 8 reception kids - and everyone in between.

She’s pretty sociable and confident so I think pretty much everyone in the school knows her!

Her main friends are a girl in her year and a boy in reception, but has also an older sister so she is quite friendly with her group of friends (currently y4/y5). I do think she’s quite young emotionally though.

I would have serious concerns about a teacher who wasn't capable of "balancing the needs" of 8 children!

I skipped a year at school. Academically I caught up within a term and was back to being bored and unchallenged. Sport was awful. Socially I'm not sure I ever recovered. And it sucks in 6th form when all your friends are learning to drive and going out and you don't even have ID to go for a drink after A Level results.

5-8 in a year so presumably each class is around 15-16 children.

I wouldn't allow this for my own child though, I'd keep her with her peer group.

I'd be asking the school exactly what their plan is though - so next year she goes into the 3-4 class, and spends 2 years there? And then after that into the 5-6 class but spends 3 years there? I think that last 3 years would end up being a bit of a slog.

If your looking at moving her to private I would keep her in her year if your considering going for scholarship or she will be competing for against kids 18months older than her. Also as other people said she would be doing sport etc with children 18mths older than her. It's up to the school to adapt the work.

I wish I'd been put up a year at that age. Instead I got bored.

My child was put up a year in junior high school. We hesitated but it was the best thing ever and I'm so glad we did it. Child was much happier there too and made much better friends.

Most schools wouldn’t need to do it because they have enough children that they can separate year groups, or at least only have 2 year groups in one class and they don’t need to provide extended y2 work at the same time as getting children to the early learning goals.

Reception and Y2 in the same class seems like madness.

Thinking about it, depending enormously on what their numbers are in other year groups, and also on the level of others in her own group, maybe they could deliberately split year 2 across the 2 classes, so that 2 or 3 year 2s go into the yr 3-4 class while still acknowledging that they are year 2. I suspect that doesn't get done much because of yr 1-2 being viewed as a key stage. I've heard of other small schools having a tiny reception class then 2 years together up the school; I guess this school is just below the size that they can do that, while still above the size that drops to 2 classes R-2 and 3-6.

I think I'd change schools tbh my DD is year 1 and I don't think socially moving to the year 3/4 class would be a good fit for a 6-7year old

Your problem is that the school is too small and is mixing year groups which doesn't suit your DD needs. If she was just surrounded by genuine yr2 group next year I'm sure they could support her while stretching her learning surrounded by her peers

Thank you everyone - you are all making some excellent points and it’s really useful for me to hear the range of opinions.

"
Reception and Y2 in the same class seems like madness."

Indeed.And particularly bad for the Reception children.

I would not do this. Our school is well able to differentiate for different abilities including a number of children working well beyond their age group (y6 maths in y1, etc). My younger child started y2 already exceeding y2 expectations and more than ready for y3. Her teachers were unfased and she, like the other bright kids, are stimulated and challenged within their class. Your school should be meeting her needs in her cohort.

I wouldn't do this, she'll be quite a bit younger than the others. I have a bright autumn born child who literally missed the cut off by days and they do struggle to stretch even in a class that's only year 2, but she's emotionally young for her age and would never cope with the year above.
Also I had a friend who skipped a year somewhere and therefore went to university at 17, it created all sorts of issues you might not consider as they're still considered a child.