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UK school year calculator
This calculator gives England year groups. Enter a date of birth to see the year group and Key Stage, then check the year-group and term tables below. Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are covered in the note under the tables.
- Year group by age on 31 August · England rule
- Three terms, typical dates · check your local authority
- Home education friendly · year groups are a reference, not a requirement
School year calculatorEngland rule
Which school year is your child in?
Enter your child's date of birth and pick the academic year. The result uses the England rule (age on 31 August). Home-educating families may use year groups as a reference point but are not required to follow them.
Your answer
Enter a date of birth to see the England year group for 2026-27.
This calculator gives England year groups. Wales uses the same 31 August age rule. Northern Ireland uses a 1 July cut-off and Scotland uses a different starting-age pattern; see the note below the tables.
Quick answer
In England, the school year runs from early September to late July and is split into three terms: autumn, spring and summer. A child's year group depends on their age on 31 August. This calculator gives England year groups. Wales uses the same 31 August age rule. Northern Ireland uses a 1 July cut-off and Scotland uses a different starting-age pattern; both are explained below.
Year groups
School year by age (England)
Ages are as of 31 August at the start of the academic year.
| Year group | Age on 31 August | Key Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Reception (Year R) | 4-5 | Early Years / Foundation Stage |
| Year 1 | 5-6 | Key Stage 1 |
| Year 2 | 6-7 | Key Stage 1 |
| Year 3 | 7-8 | Key Stage 2 |
| Year 4 | 8-9 | Key Stage 2 |
| Year 5 | 9-10 | Key Stage 2 |
| Year 6 | 10-11 | Key Stage 2 |
| Year 7 | 11-12 | Key Stage 3 |
| Year 8 | 12-13 | Key Stage 3 |
| Year 9 | 13-14 | Key Stage 3 |
| Year 10 | 14-15 | Key Stage 4 |
| Year 11 | 15-16 | Key Stage 4 |
| Year 12 | 16-17 | Key Stage 5 (sixth form) |
| Year 13 | 17-18 | Key Stage 5 (sixth form) |
Term dates
Term dates overview (England)
Typical pattern only. Local authorities, academies and free schools set exact dates.
Autumn term
First or second week of September to mid or late December
Half-term break: Late OctoberSpring term
Early January to late March or early April
Half-term break: Mid-FebruarySummer term
Mid or late April to mid or late July
Half-term break: End of May or start of JuneHow the school year works in England
The English school year begins in early September and ends in late July. It divides into three terms, each punctuated by half-term breaks and longer holidays at Christmas, Easter and summer.
Year groups are determined by a child's age on 31 August before the autumn term starts. In England, a child who turns four on or before 31 August can start Reception that September. A child who turns five on or before 31 August goes into Year 1. Children must be in full-time education by compulsory school age, the term after their fifth birthday, so some families start Reception later in the year or part-time.
Local authorities in England set their own term dates, so start and finish dates vary. Academies and free schools may also set their own calendars. Always check your local authority or school website for exact dates.
Term dates: what the overview does not tell you
Each term lasts approximately 12 to 14 weeks. Total teaching weeks across the year are typically 38 to 39.
Important: specific dates vary by local authority and by school type. Academies and free schools set their own calendars. Do not rely on generic online dates for planning. Always confirm with your local authority or school directly.
Scotland's school year starts earlier (usually mid-August) and ends earlier (late June). Wales and Northern Ireland publish separate term-date calendars through their education departments.
For the most current statutory guidance, check GOV.UK or your local authority. Families who home educate may use year groups as a reference point but are not required to follow the National Curriculum structure.
School year vs exam year
GCSE exams are typically sat at the end of Year 11, when students are 15 or 16 years old. A levels are sat at the end of Year 13 (age 17 or 18). Both follow May/June exam series as standard, though November resits are available for GCSE English language and maths.
Home-educated students can enter for GCSEs and A levels as private candidates. They do not need to follow a school calendar but must register with an exam centre well ahead of exam dates. Exam centres and awarding organisations set entry deadlines months in advance, so forward planning is essential.
Exam boards do not require students to be a specific age to sit exams, but exam centres may set their own policies. Some centres ask that GCSE candidates be at least 14 by the time they sit the exam.
Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland
Wales: year groups follow the same 31 August age rule as England, and most children start school in the September after their fourth birthday. Compulsory school age is the term after the fifth birthday. Some Welsh councils admit children full-time in the term after their fourth birthday, so check your council's admissions page.
Northern Ireland: the cut-off is 1 July, not 31 August. A child who is four on or between 1 September and 1 July starts school at the beginning of the next school year. A child who turns four between 2 July and 31 August starts in the September after their fifth birthday. Primary school runs from Year 1 to Year 7, and post-primary from Year 8.
Scotland: children start between four and a half and five and a half. A child with a fifth birthday from 1 March to 31 August starts in the August of the year they turn five. A child born from 1 September to the end of February usually starts in the August before they turn five, and parents can ask to defer. Scotland uses Primary 1 to Primary 7, then Secondary 1 to Secondary 6.
Sources: Welsh Government school admissions guidance; Department of Education Northern Ireland, Compulsory education; Education Scotland Parentzone, Attending school. Checked 20 October 2026.
Year-group and term patterns follow GOV.UK and local authority guidance for England. Nation notes follow the Welsh Government, the Department of Education Northern Ireland and Education Scotland. Exact dates are set locally and change each year. Checked 20 October 2026.
How it works
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter the date of birth
Work out your child's age on 31 August of the current or upcoming academic year. The calculator does this for you from the date of birth.
- 2
Match the year group
Age 4 on 31 August is Reception; age 5 is Year 1, and so on up to Year 13. The full table below shows every year group and its Key Stage.
- 3
Check term dates locally
Term dates vary by local authority and by school. Academies and free schools set their own calendars, so confirm exact start and finish dates with them.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What school year is my child in?
Find your child's age on 31 August of the current or upcoming academic year, then match it to the year-group table above. For example, a child who is 9 on 31 August 2026 (turning 10 during the year) will be in Year 5 for the 2026-27 school year.
When does the school year start in the UK?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the school year typically starts in early September. In Scotland, schools usually begin in mid-August. Exact dates vary by local authority and by school.
Do I have to follow school terms if I home educate?
No. Home-educating families are not required to follow term dates, year groups or the National Curriculum. Many choose to use school terms as a loose framework, especially if coordinating with exam deadlines or sibling school schedules, but it is entirely optional.
Can my child sit GCSEs if they are home educated?
Yes. Home-educated students can sit GCSEs as private candidates. You will need to find and register with an exam centre, usually several months before the exam series, and pay the centre's entry fees.
Are school year groups the same across the UK?
Not exactly. England and Wales use Reception to Year 13 with a 31 August age cut-off. Northern Ireland numbers its primary years from Year 1 (starting at four) to Year 7, then post-primary from Year 8, and uses a 1 July cut-off. Scotland uses Primary 1 to Primary 7, then Secondary 1 to Secondary 6, and children start between four and a half and five and a half.
Where can I find exact term dates for my area?
Check your local authority website or your child's school calendar. Academies and free schools may publish their own dates. Do not rely on generic online calendars, as dates vary significantly across England.
Keep reading
Next steps
Useful pages once you know the year group.
Exploring home education? See home education GCSEs at Lift College