New academic year starting in June?

[Nothingbuttherain]

DC started high school in Sep. in Yr7. Come the end-May half term and were told the new academic year starts after half term, so they are now a few weeks into yr 8! When did this become a thing? Is it common these days? In my day (the90’s) you started a new school year after the summer break. I just assumed this was standard?

Its common in Y9 for GCSEs. A lot of schools start their GCSE content in core subjects the last half term of Y9 as it's too much content to cover in 2 years.
Never heard of it happening as early as y7 though but it may just be the schools way of moving everyone up once the Y11s are gone. The Y6s have their transitions, y7s become y8s etc.

Is a psychological thing isn't it?
Stops the last few weeks being wind down mode.
Though are they really doing new timetables, new sets, new exercise books etc? What about staff who don't start until September?

Yup certainly new timetables, new teachers and new books!

I was also in school in the 90s and it was a thing then too. Although I'm in Scotland if it makes a difference.

yes, my kids schools do this. DS2 is in yr 10 from Monday for the last 3 weeks of term

I thought this was unusual for my Yr 9 his older brother only did 2 day transition from year 9 to year 10, I was wondering why ?