February

[YellowDiamond77]

Hi,
We're hoping to move to Edinburgh from London this summer with my 8 year old dd and 6 year old ds. My daughter is in Year 4 and was born mid February, so she's middle of her year group age wise here, I don't like the idea of her having to start a new school as the youngest, especially as she's a quiet, sensitive child anyway. Would we have the option of choosing between P5 and P6 for the school year starting 2018? Thanks!

You would be best to speak to the schools.

if she's 8 just now she'd be one of the youngest kids in the current P5 cohort so you'd be looking at requesting she goes into P5 in the Scottish school system next year.

I can't see there being an issue to be honest (DD1 started reception in England & went to nursery when we moved back to Scotland due to the different systems & her February birthday) but its best to contact the school you intend on sending them to & asking about their policy.

Yes you will get the choice.

My experience (as I have DSs in adjacent years) has been that children moving from other systems as usually put in the younger year with an option to see how they do and maybe move if required. My DSs have had other children move from one of their classes to the other after starting and therefore have ended up with shared friends :).

The Scottish system is a bit more flexible in terms of age ranges so I am sure that the school will be able to accommodate what suits her best (depending on what spaces they have in classes too I suppose).

You say this summer and school year starting in 2018, do you mean next summer and 2019? Summer has well and truly gone here!

Thanks all, thats really reassuring! WaxOn interesting about children moving classes after they have started, it all sounds a lot more flexible than UK system . And yes sorry i did mean starting summer 2019, has been busy week...

A lot more flexible than the UK system? But Scotland is in the UK so by default it's a UK system?

I have a March born DD3,amongst the eldest in her year but there are older due parent exercising their Scottish rights due to Scotland always having their own education system within the UK. Has always looked much older than her age but if she'd been Feb born I'd have deferred- delayed speech, poor gross motor skills... All resolved by age of 5 just wanted to speak in complete sentences and gain some control of her long limbs.

I have a February born DD4 who is amongst the youngest as she is/was academically/socially/emotionally/physically mature. Bog all to do with my parenting but lots to do with osmosis from older sisters. Starting on Nat 5s (don't try to compare these with GCSEs for your sanity's sake) and doing fine despite being 14 now and 15 during exam diet.

I am a secondary teacher and thought my decision out carefully as I have experienced pupils not ready for "big school" or exams who undoubtably would have benefited from deferring school entry . But you will know your DD, as I did, and this nation in the UK acknowledges that and facilitates your choice.

it all sounds a lot more flexible than UK system

UK = the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Great Britain = Scotland, England and Wales

I'm not sure where you were educated or what made you think Scotland wasn't part of the UK.

OP, I hope you'll really enjoy living in Edinburgh.

To avoid getting off on the wrong foot, avoid using UK when you mean England or England and Wales. I've noticed this a lot on MN and elsewhere. Scotland is part of the UK, not separate from it.

Saying 'the rest of the UK' would be fine!

Sorry, that's probably wrong too because I don't know a lot about the system in N. Ireland but suspect it's different: if it is, 'rest of UK' would be inaccurate too.

If you mean England, say England, not UK!

Sorry all, i do know that Scotland is part of the UK. It was an unfortunate slip, apologies for any offence. And thanks again for the help and support much appreciated!

No worries Yellow we knew what you meant. I hope you are looking forward to your move. Edinburgh is a lovely place and my home city, I wish I could afford to move back!

Hope all goes well for you!

We did pretty much the same when we moved here. Eldest daughter would have been amongst the youngest in the year (Feb birthday), so we chose to defer her. The school had absolutely no problem with it, since she'd come from a different schooling system.