Monday, 14 January 2008
Should summer-born start school later?
BBC News is reporting today about the problems faced by summer-born youngsters at school. Ed Balls , the current schools secretary, launching a review of the primary school curriculum in England, wants greater flexibility for parents in when their children start school, so that it won't necessarily be the case, as it is in some areas now, that an August-born child may start school a few days after their fourth birthday.
With a September-born son and an August-born daughter (and myself one of those who left school at 17 and graduated from University at 20), I see at first hand the difference that a year can make to a student's academic readiness and maturity. At every stage my son is a year older than my daughter was in the same school year. Being the youngest is challenging academically (which I don't feel is necessarily a bad thing for a capable youngster) and socially - but being the oldest can end up frustrating and boring, especially if a child is bright and feels "held back".
If only the school system allowed real personalisation of learning so that children could learn at an appropriate pace whatever their age and stage. Maybe it will come...Labels: primary education, school education, starting school
posted by Helen Whitehead 8:41 AM
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