Most children go to school in their ‘usual year group’ with other children who are of the same age. Schools are expected to meet every level of a child's educational needs within their normal year group.
However, some parents may ask for their child to be educated in a different year group. For example, they may want their child to be placed in a younger or older year group than the one normally linked to their date of birth. This is called an Out of Usual Year Group Request.
Before you apply
Please consider carefully whether an out of usual year group placement is right for your child. Such a decision will affect your child throughout their education.
- Please therefore read our frequently asked questions section below before making a request.
- Ensure you submit your school application by the relevant admissions deadline, even if you are waiting for a decision on an out of usual year group request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child have an automatic right to be educated outside their usual year group?
No. There is no automatic right for a child to be educated outside their usual year group. Most children are taught with other children of the same age. Each school decides whether to agree to a request and decide whether it is in the child's best interests. Each school makes its own decision independently.
If a school agrees to consider your child for a place outside their usual year group:
- this does not guarantee your child a place at that school; and
- other schools are not required to follow the same decision.
How could this affect my child?
Being placed in a different year group can have long-term effects throughout your child's education. Schools will consider educational, social and emotional factors when making their decision, as well as whether it is appropriate and safe for children of different ages to be educated together.
If your child is placed in a younger year group, they may:
- move to secondary school later than children of the same age
- take national test like SATs and GCSEs later
- leave compulsory schooling later
- apply to college, sixth form or further education at an older age than most students
Some colleges or courses may have age-related entry requirements. You should consider how this could affect future options.
If your child is placed in an older year group, they may:
- move to secondary school earlier
- take national test like SATs and GCSEs earlier
- complete compulsory schooling earlier than children of the same age
Young people must remain in education or training until they are 18 years old. If your child completes their school education earlier than expected, this may affect the options available to them between completing school and reaching the age of 18.
What happens if my child is already out of their usual year group?
Some children are already being taught outside their normal year group. If this applies to your child, please be aware that there is no guarantee this arrangement will continue when they move to a new school.
Each school or admission authority makes its own decision about whether a child should be educated outside their usual year group. A new school does not have to follow a decision made by a previous school.
How do I make a request to educate my child outside their usual year group?
Step 1 – Contact the schools
Contact each school you are interested in as early as possible and ask them to consider your request.
Schools can only consider requests during term time. To allow enough time for schools to make a decision, you should contact them at least 10 school days before the relevant admissions application deadline.
Please see the Normal Points of Entry section below for application deadlines.
Step 2 – Provide supporting information
Please provide any information that may help the school understand your child's individual circumstances.
This could include:
- school reports;
- information from professionals working with your child;
- medical evidence; or
- information about your child's social or emotional development.
What happens next?
The school will decide whether your request should be agreed. The local authority cannot tell a school to accept or refuse a request. If one or more schools agree to your request you must fill-in our Out of Usual Year Group Authorisation Form and submit it, together with the school's written agreement, at least 10 days before the admissions closing date.
This allows the School Admissions Team to give you access to the correct application process on the eAdmissions website.
Will my child be offered a place?
Not necessarily. If a school agrees that your child can be considered for a different year group, this does not guarantee a place at the school. All applications are still considered using the school's published admission arrangements.
What happens if my child is not offered a place?
If you accepted for an out of year group application and your child is not offered a place through the normal admissions process, you may need to apply through the In-Year Admissions Process if you refuse the place offered. Please email the School Admissions Team if you need more information and they will let you know what options are available to you.
What happens if my request is refused?
You should still apply for school places by the relevant admissions deadline in case your request is not agreed. If a request is refused, your child will need to apply for a place in their normal age group if they are of legal school age.
Please see section ‘Normal Points of entry' to see application deadlines for each area of admission.
Summary - Key things to remember
- There is no automatic right to education outside a child's usual year group.
- Schools must consider each request individually.
- Agreement to an out of usual year group request does not guarantee a school place.
- If a school agrees to admit your child out of year group, there is no guarantee this arrangement will continue when they move to a new school. Different schools may make different decisions.
- Always submit your school application by the relevant deadline, even if you are waiting for a decision for your out usual of year group request.
Complaints
If your out of year group request is refused and you disagree with a school's decision, you must complain directly to the relevant school's admission authority.
The local authority cannot overturn the school's decision.
If you remain unhappy after using the school's complaints process:
- for academy schools, you may complain to the Department for Education
- for community and voluntary controlled schools, you may complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Appeals
There is no legal right of appeal against a decision about whether a child should be educated outside their usual year group.
School admission appeals only cover decisions about whether a school place has been offered, not which year group a child should join.
