UK School Year Calculator
Enter the date of birth to see the year group, key stage and when your child starts Reception, moves to secondary school and can leave school.
This follows the rules in England, where the school year starts on 1 September. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different cut-off dates in places.
Worked examples
Oldest in the year
Born 1 September 2021, school year 2026 to 2027
Reception
Turns 5 on 1 September 2026.
Youngest in the year
Born 31 August 2021, school year 2026 to 2027
Year 1
One day older than the cut-off, so a year ahead.
Leaving date
Born 10 March 2010
Friday 26 June 2026
GCSE exams in summer 2026, the last Friday in June.
About UK School Year Calculator
Children in England are placed in a school year by their date of birth. Everyone born from 1 September to 31 August is in the same year group, so a child born on 31 August is the youngest in the class and one born on 1 September is the oldest. Enter a date of birth and this calculator shows the year group for a school year you choose, which starts as the current one, with the key stage and a table of the next few years.
It also gives the dates parents ask about: the September the child starts Reception, the September they start Year 7, the summer of their GCSE exams and the earliest date they can leave school. Under the rules published by GOV.UK, a young person can leave on the last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16 by 31 August, but must then stay in education or training until they turn 18. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different cut-off dates in places.
How to use UK School Year Calculator
- Enter the date of birth.
- Leave the school year as the current one, or pick another.
- Read the year group and key stage.
- Check the dates for Reception, Year 7, GCSEs and leaving school.
Common uses
- Checking which year a child should be in
- Planning a school application for Reception or secondary
- Working out the GCSE exam year
- Understanding the effect of a summer birthday
Frequently asked questions
What year is a child born in September 2021 in?
They are in Reception from September 2026, because they turn 5 between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027.
What is the school cut-off date?
In England the school year runs from 1 September to 31 August, so the cut-off is 31 August. A child born on 31 August is in the older year group than one born the next day.
When can my child leave school?
They can leave on the last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16 by the end of August. They must then stay in education or training until 18.
Can summer-born children start later?
Parents of children born between 1 April and 31 August can ask for the start of Reception to be delayed by a year. Contact the local council about the process.
Does this work for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules and cut-off dates, so the result is for England.