School Year Calculator: When Did I Start Secondary School?
This when did I start secondary school calculator uses the 1 September cut-off in England and Wales: a child born on 20 May 2015 started Reception in September 2019, is in Year 7 in 2026/27 and sits GCSEs in summer 2031. Enter any date of birth to see the school year group and key dates.
Scotland and Northern Ireland use different cut-off dates, which you can choose below.
- England & Wales cut-off1 September
- Scotland cut-off1 March
- Northern Ireland cut-off2 July
Updated November 2026 · Uses UK school cut-off dates
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How school years work in England and Wales
The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August, so all children born between those dates are in the same year group. Children born in September are the oldest in their class and those born in August the youngest.
Most children start Reception full-time in the September after their fourth birthday. Compulsory school age begins on 31 December, 31 March or 31 August following their fifth birthday, whichever comes first, so a summer-born child does not have to start until Year 1.
School year groups by date of birth (England and Wales)
| Born between | Year group in 2026/27 | Started secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 2021 – 31 Aug 2022 | Reception | September 2033 |
| 1 Sep 2019 – 31 Aug 2020 | Year 2 | September 2031 |
| 1 Sep 2016 – 31 Aug 2017 | Year 5 | September 2028 |
| 1 Sep 2014 – 31 Aug 2015 | Year 7 | September 2026 |
| 1 Sep 2012 – 31 Aug 2013 | Year 9 | September 2024 |
| 1 Sep 2010 – 31 Aug 2011 | Year 11 (GCSEs summer 2027) | September 2022 |
| 1 Sep 2008 – 31 Aug 2009 | Year 13 | September 2020 |
When did I start secondary school?
In England and Wales everyone starts secondary school (Year 7) in the September when they are 11, or just turning 12 if their birthday is 1 September. If you were born between January and August, add 11 to your birth year; if born between September and December, add 12.
For example, if you were born on 10 March 1990 you started Year 7 in September 2001 and took GCSEs in summer 2006.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, children with birthdays from 1 March to 31 August usually start P1 in the August of the year they turn five, and those born from 1 September to the end of February start in the August before they turn five. Primary runs P1 to P7, then secondary S1 to S6.
In Northern Ireland, children start Primary 1 in September if they are 4 by 1 July that year. Primary runs P1 to P7, then post-primary from Year 8 to Year 14.
Frequently asked questions
What year group is a child born in May 2015 in?
In England and Wales, Year 7 in the 2026/27 school year. They started Reception in September 2019.
When does a child born in August start school?
In England and Wales, usually the September straight after their fourth birthday, so they are the youngest in the year. Parents can ask for a summer-born child to start Reception a year later, but the school or council does not have to agree.
What is the school cut-off date in the UK?
England and Wales use 1 September. In Scotland the year runs from 1 March to the end of February, and in Northern Ireland the cut-off is 1 July.
What year do you take GCSEs?
GCSEs are usually taken at the end of Year 11 in England and Wales, the summer you turn 16. In Northern Ireland they are at the end of Year 12.
Sources and method
We use official UK guidance and recognised formulas, and test each calculator against worked examples. Results are estimates to help you plan, not professional advice. See how we work.