School Grade Level Question

So my daughter will start 2nd grade next year in America, but we are moving to the Uk. The problem is that here she didn't have to be 5 to start kindergarden because the cutoff date was October 1st here and her birthday is september 10. So she is young in her grade here but luckily top of her class! But I read that in the UK she would have to be 7 by september 1st to move up to the next grade but her birthday is sept. 10th. So would she have to repeat her current grade in England or would they allow her to move on to what would be their 2nd grade? Does all of this make sense

The school system is completely different here and her school place is determined by age and from what I understand this is strictly followed. 

Friends with kids who have moved back to the US have found that their kids are ahead of their peers.

So she would probably have to repeat 1st grade there since her birthday isn't til sept 10th?

She'll go into year 2 here I'd think.

So she would probably have to repeat 1st grade there since her birthday isn't til sept 10th?

Not exactly. It's not 1st grade here and as I said the system  and curriculum are completely different here. 

Well she has already done kindergarden and 1st grade here so I thought it equals going through level 2. So She should be going into 2nd grade in america or Year 3 in England? So I was concerned she would have to do year 2 in england next year which would be like repeating 1st grade?

As I said, kids who move UK to US tend to be ahead of kids their own age in the US. Plus, the curriculum and style of teaching are completely different.  Repeating doesn't seem likely.

Hi Mariel4444 , where in the 'UK' are you moving to? Schools differ between England/Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland, so to have a more targeted answer, that would be helpful to know. 

I don't have my own kids yet, but I have volunteered in primary schools (once a week) and have many friends with school age children   -  I have nieces and nephews in the US -  In my (very humble and probably wrong   ) opinion, younger kids are learning different things at different times due to differences in curriculum-teaching style-etc-  so you may actually find your daughter may be ahead in some things, but she's behind in other things.

I'll let all the Mums give you a proper answer though 

I think it is unlikely that your daughter will be initially be placed anywhere other than with the appropriate age group, and then assessed.

Children in the UK do not generally move to the next level of school, in most areas this would be from a primary school to a secondary school, until it is age appropriate. However, in my experience, every effort is made to teach to the level of the child. For my children this meant joining a mixed age class where they learned in groups according to ability for different subjects and, for example, moved at their own pace through the Mathematics textbooks.

I think that the only thing to do in this situation is to contact the council that oversees the school that she will be going to and ask them.

I wouldn't worry too much about 'repeating.'  If she were close to middle-school aged, you might have some issues, but as others have said, at her age, given the broad range of abilities and subjects that are covered in primary schools, even if she is ahead of her classmates on certain topics, there will be other things she's probably never been exposed to.  I imagine it will all even out.  If nothing else, an 'easy year' will give her time to get used to the culture shock of the move itself, plus the big differences in school culture.

congrats on your upcoming move! 

have you toured or interviewed at any schools in england yet?  we are moving to london in june.  my boys are kindergarten and 2nd grade at a very competitive private school in the US.  we interviewed and sat assessments at London schools in January.  as soon as we got back to the US from that visit, we hired tutors for both boys to prepare.  Kids in the UK are up to a full year ahead of kids in the US at this stage.  we were shocked at how advanced the kids in the london schools were.  for example, Year 1 kids (the equivalent of kindergarten age in the US) were doing creative writing -- stories that were up to 2 pages long in beautiful handwriting! 

There is a website that will give you an overview of the national curriculum - newcomer link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/national_curriculum_key_stages/ [nonactive] - it might help ease your anxiety about your daughter 'repeating' a year.  On your return to the US, you will likely find she is ahead of her peers.

good luck in your move! 

UK and US primary schools focus on different aspects.  But did you say you were looking at private Year 1 schools?

Because I don't know any Year 1 school child who is writing 2 page stories with beautiful handwriting and I have 6 nieces and nephews.