Move up a school year in secondary

[mamnotmum]

Not should you but legally can you request to move a child UP a school year in secondary school?

I have asked admissions at the LA but the reply email says they are very busy and it may take some time to reply etc etc.

I realise that it would mean the child MUST be in education for the year after they leave secondary school as they would still be 15.

Thanks.

In England they need to be in education or training until 18. Schools may be reluctant, state very unlikely to do so.

No you can’t in the state school system OP

So I wouldn’t bother chasing the LEA for a response. They will get back to you and it will be a no

Wouldn't there be a huge gap in their learning if they did this regardless of how clever the child is?

Can you imagine if all parents were legally able to “demand” this? 😂

Even if they could keep up with the year above academically (and agree with point above that they wouldn't have covered all the curriculum) emotionally and socially it could be a wrecking ball for the child.

@mamnotmum why would you want to?

Yes, it's on the school though not the la. It's actually fairly common for subject acceleration

If this is to do with their ability to learn fast have a look at potential plus for resources and support.

There have been a few children who did their a-levels early and went to university age 15, I met one, but I don’t know exactly how it happened. I do know some home educated children take maths gcse at age ten.

I think schools would be reluctant because while the child may be suited to higher level learning (and frankly with correct tuition most children are capable or working a year or two above what the state curriculum demands), their social development will be damaged. Not much fun being a 12 yr old still interested in barbies if the rest if the class are starting to drink and date, etc.

I felt rather sorry for the 15 yr old I knew at uni, he was heavily policied by staff to keep him away from booze and could never just relax and join in. And by the time he was 18 hni was ocer and it was time for work so be never did the full uni experience.

Not something I’d want for my child.

No. And it doesn't do them any help either.

And yes from my experience it is a good thing.

I think subject acceleration from within a year group is relatively common. Completely skipping a year is not.

I don't think you have a legal right to request it, in the way you can request deferral of summer borns now. I would imagine you will just get 'no' as a response.

Many years ago, where we lived there was a policy whereby the very brightest DC could go up to secondary a year early. My big sister was one who did.

With hindsight it might have been better if se didn't. Academically, she was absolutely fine and did well. But socially - especially mid-teens - she was rather adrift. Not in the sense of not having friends (it wasn't nasty/unpleasant) but she was the one one who was nearly two years off having driving lessons when the others started, and who couldn't join in when social life started to include pubs and discos, who was smaller and less able to keep up in sport etc. And then too young really to go to university at end of sixth form and still well under 18 so too young for most employers or to travel independently - DSis did an extra year sixth form, resitting one A level and doing another from scratch in a year - school must have made quite an effort to make that happen as it was non-standard, but again in left her as an odd one out and having to make new friends.

Policy was abandoned by the time I was that age.

It might have worked better for a September born DC who would be only a few weeks younger than the cohort. It's tough for those wit a bigger gap and having seen it in practice I wouldn't recommend

There was a girl on my university course who'd skipped a year and therefore was only 17 when she started, it caused more problems than you'd expect. Not so much with drinking as in those days few places checked, but she couldn't have a normal debit or credit card, was not allowed to live in halls and her parents had to sign everything.

I remember it happening early in primary school many years ago so they were a year younger when off to secondary school. It worked in primary as they were causing mischief due to being ahead. They did ok in secondary but were teased about it.

The legal situation, as per the Admission Code, is that you can request this, but there is no automatic right. Each case must be considered on its own merits, with the best interests of the child at heart, and must also take into consideration the views of the Head Teacher of the school. In reality, it very rarely happens.

Here -

"Admission authorities must make decisions on the basis of the circumstances of each case and in the best interests of the child concerned. This will include taking account of the parent’s views; information about the child’s academic, social, and emotional development; where relevant, their medical history and the views of a medical professional; whether they have previously been educated out of their normal age group; and whether they may naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not for being born prematurely. They must also take into account the views of the head teacher of the school concerned."

Honestly, do NOT do this.

I went through school a year ahead, one of my sisters was 2 years ahead (did GCSEs at 13 and got 11 A* with minimal effort).

Both of us had real struggles socially, both of us had breakdowns at university and had to take years out, and my sister never took her finals so has no degree after 4.5 years of university. Big age gap between us hence why parents didn't think to say no the second time.

My other siblings went through in either correct year or a year behind (after several years in hospital), and had a much easier and happier time, and ultimately probably did better academically since they weren't struggling with everything else.

I know lots of other kids who did the same thing and it very, very rarely ends well.

DH and I actively planned for Spring DC so they wouldn't be oldest or youngest in the year and were firm that no matter how bright or advanced, they would not be stepping outside their age cohorts. (Turns out we didn't need to worry with DD who is not that kind of kid at all!)

There is a boy in my DD's year (they are now Year 12) who did this, so it's evidently possible. In his case he'd been moved up mid primary school though so spend all secondary school in the same year group.

It worked well for him academically (he was one of the most able in the year group) but was a total disaster socially where he really struggled to fit in.

I moved up a year in secondary in the 1990s, and it was fine. It made very little difference socially (though to be fair, if you are the sort of kid who's working way above the level of your year group, you're probably going to struggle with popularity anyway!). My school moved a small number of kids from year 7 to 8 for the last term of the year. In practice, kids in that category wouldn't be planning to leave immediately post-GCSE anyway, so there'd be no issue with finishing at 15, as you'd be expecting to do A Levels. Anyway, it was the school that suggested it, not my parents. I doubt there's anything stopping you asking, but I doubt if the school would be obliged to say yes or even consider it if it's not already part of their policies. Going to uni at 17 was also fine and I was allowed to live in halls. I was in England but in Scotland many kids go at 17 anyway.

My sister was skipped in elementary school, and it worked very well for her. Perhaps 10% of students should be skip a year before Y6. Some children will always be smallest, whether in year or out. A year difference in age won’t ruin their social or emotional development.

DS would be in the year above if I'd gone for the alternative ELCS date available.

He's extremely bright and has lots of friends in the year above due to nursery being two years and due to starting beavers/cubs slightly earlier than usual due to DH being a leader.

Socially he can cope to a point. Academically it probably to a degree would be better as there isn't a little dickhead like the one in his class. But I think it would have an impact on his confidence in various ways.

Seeing the youngest kids in his own year, I just wouldn't go there. It's not worth it. They have issues relating to it (SATS suggest COVID made this worse too).

I graduated uni before my 21st birthday due to being a summer baby. I went 'on time' but in hindsight I didn't have the maturity to handle it and that only really came at the back end of my second year. I wouldn't do that to DS and put him in a similar position.

I never quite understand what the point of this would be.
If your child is excelling academically then find lots of other things for them to do with their time/brain power. Music, languages etc
What does the child actually gain in the long term from being educated ‘quicker’?
SociallyI would think it’s a big risk and likely to end up with issues.
WHY do you think it would be better for them to move year groups??

I enquired about it with a state secondary about 5 years ago. This was for a child educated internationally who had skipped a year in primary. I was told it wasn't an absolute no and a case would need to be made to the governors.