Children are usually taught in the year group for their age. This is called their normal age group.
Sometimes, parents or carers may ask for their child to be in a different year group: 'admission outside the normal age group' or sometimes called an 'out of year group request'.
For example, this might be because of illness or their development.
How decisions are made
Making the decision is the responsibility of the admission authority. To find out about admission authorities see School admissions in Cornwall.
The admission authority will look at:
your child’s situation
their learning, social and emotional development
any helpful information (such as medical or professional advice)
the views of the school
Each case is looked at individually, and the decision must be in your child’s best interests.
Children already at school
If your child is already at school and you want them to move to a different year group (for example, to repeat a year):
this is decided by the school, not through the admissions process
you should speak to the headteacher
the headteacher makes the decision about which year group a child is educated in when they are on roll
however, it is different if it is a request to repeat reception: see Delayed admission to school for summer-born children
Children starting school
If you are considering delayed entry to reception there is a different process - please go to Delayed admission to school for summer-born children
How to make a request for admission outside the normal age group
You should contact the school to discuss your request. They should agree on a decision with the school's admission authority and let you know. To find out about admission authorities see School admissions in Cornwall.
If the school/admission authority does not agree:
you will need to apply for your child’s normal age group if you still require a place at the school
If the school/admission authority agrees in principle to admission outside the normal age group:
this is not a guarantee of a place, you will need to make an application
you will need to apply for your child’s normal age group (because the application form is based on your child's date of birth)
you will need to write in the application that you are requesting a different year group
we will contact the school and let you know the final outcome
Key points
there is no automatic right to a different year group
requests are agreed only in exceptional cases
decisions do not automatically carry on to future schools
you can appeal if you are refused a school place, but not just because you disagree with the year group offered
the headteacher could decide to change your child's year group at any time, but only if there are sound educational reasons