Is it better for a child to be the youngest or the oldest in the class? Raisingkids.co.uk's Education expert, Elizabeth Cook answers this perennial question.

Raisingkids member's problem
My daughter's birthday is 23 September. She's going to start reception class after the summer holidays and I just wondered if she'll be one year behind or not. Is it possible to skip one year and how do they decide if she's bright enough for this to happen?

Elizabeth's advice
Far from being a year behind your daughter will be one of the lucky few who will get 3 full years before they enter KS2. Traditionally, children move from the infant school(now KS1) to the junior school(now KS2) the September after they turn 7. This means that for your daughter she will be nearly 8 when she moves into the Y3 class, having completed 3 years - 1 year in Reception and 2 years in KS1.

For some children, especially those who are born between April and August, this could mean that they only get 2 complete years in KS1 before they move into KS2. These children will have only just turned seven and will always be the youngest in their class, competing with children who could be almost one year older. For some children this leads them to feel that they are underachievers - whereas in fact they are just younger, and have less life experiences than older children.

On the other and your daughter she will be nearly 8 when she moves into the Y3 class, and will be one of the oldest, having completed 3 years - 1 year in Reception and 2 years in KS1. Count your blessings and don't try and push your child when it is not necessary. Skipping a year of schooling will not benefit your daughter, whereas having an extra year might. If it proves that your daughter has exceptional ability and would benefit from being in a higher class, I am sure that the school would discuss this with you, at a parents evening, and make suitable arrangements.

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