Guide
School starting ages by country
Children start formal school at different ages around the world. If you move countries, your child may find themselves a year ahead or behind their old classmates.
| Country | First year of school | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| England | Reception, in the September after a child turns 4 | Compulsory from the term after a child's fifth birthday |
| Scotland | Primary 1, between about 4 and a half and 5 and a half | School year starts in August |
| United States | Kindergarten, usually at 5 | Cut-off dates and compulsory ages vary by state |
| Japan | First grade of elementary school at 6 | School year starts in April |
| Germany | Grundschule at about 6 | Cut-off dates vary between the states |
| Singapore | Primary 1 in the year a child turns 7 | School year starts in January |
| France | Ecole maternelle from 3 | Instruction has been compulsory from 3 since 2019 |
| Australia | A foundation year at about 5 | Its name and the cut-off date vary by state |
Why it matters
A child born in the summer may be in a different school year depending on the country. Moving from England to Germany, for example, a five-year-old may go from a classroom with formal reading lessons to a kindergarten where reading has not yet started.
International schools
International schools usually place children by the system they follow, not the host country. A British school in Japan will normally group children by the English September cut-off, while a Japanese state school uses April. Ask each school which date it uses before you apply.
When to start looking
In many cities, popular schools fill places a year or more ahead. Starting your search early gives you a better choice, especially in cities such as Singapore where international school places can be in demand.