1. Too Absolutely Small ?
© Lauren Child

2. 1870 rationale for starting school at 5:
Why 5?
1870 rationale for starting school at 5:
To obtain time for an education without trenching on time for gaining a living
To inculcate the habits of decency, cleanliness and order
However...
Some MPs considered that five was “too tender an age for compulsory attendance.”
Whitbread 1972

3. Comparative ages for starting school
Country
Four
Northern Ireland
Five
England, Malta, Netherlands, Scotland, Wales
Six
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey
Seven
Bulgaria, Estonia,Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden Euridyce2009

4. PISA 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment
Excellence?
PISA 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment
UK results from amongst 57 countries: Science: 14th Reading: 17th Maths: 28th ?

5. PIRLS 2006 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
Russian Federation 565
Hong Kong
Singapore
Luxembourg
Italy
Hungary
Sweden
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium (Flemish)
Bulgaria
Denmark
Latvia
United States
England
Countries Reading achievement distribution (mean scores)
School starting age 5
School starting age 6
School starting age 7

6. Enjoyment? Enjoyment is the birthright of every child
Charles Clarke 2003
“data shows that children in England had less positive attitudes to reading than children in most other countries and that their attitudes were somewhat poorer than in 2001
PIRLS 2006
Charles Clarke 2003
PIRLS 2006 x

7. Freddy Wasn’t Ready
Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds axons in the brain. A fully developed myelin sheath allows messages to transmit through the brain more rapidly. Myelin sheath development continues beyond Marianne Wolf

8. Rose
“the preferred pattern of entry to reception classes should be the September immediately following a child’s fourth birthday”
Maintain EYFS goals for writing and phonics
ease transition between EYFS and KS1
high quality teaching is the answer to ‘word poverty’

9. Alexander continue EYFS until 6 years old
commence primary education at 6 with only one Key Stage
Removes one of the transitions and allows time for extra maturity

10. QCA Aims for the curriculum
To enable young people to become:
Successful learners, who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
Confident individuals, who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
Responsible citizens, who make a positive contribution to society
Impressive aspirations or minimum expectations?

11. The QCA aims are not statutory for primary schools
Targets:
“ The QCA aims ....emphasis on the development of personal qualities might serve to counterbalance or perhaps outweigh, the longstanding focus on test and examination results as a measure of schools’ and pupils’ performances.”
(Alexander 2009 p 181)
The QCA aims are not statutory for primary schools

12. Radical new Curriculum or Missed Opportunity?
Ease of transition to be welcomed....
But Freddy still won’t be ready