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| School odds stacked against summer babies, says IFS | School odds stacked against summer babies, says IFS |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | |
| Children born in the summer are at a substantial academic disadvantage throughout school, says a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. | Children born in the summer are at a substantial academic disadvantage throughout school, says a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. |
| The study says that among seven-year-olds, August-born children are more than three times as likely to be "below average" as September-born children. | The study says that among seven-year-olds, August-born children are more than three times as likely to be "below average" as September-born children. |
| August children are also 20% less likely to attend a top university. | August children are also 20% less likely to attend a top university. |
| The IFS says the economic consequences facing summer babies will last "throughout their working lives". | The IFS says the economic consequences facing summer babies will last "throughout their working lives". |
| The report from the independent financial researchers shows the sharp difference in outcomes between the youngest children in a year group - those born in August - and the oldest, born in September. | The report from the independent financial researchers shows the sharp difference in outcomes between the youngest children in a year group - those born in August - and the oldest, born in September. |
| Less confidence | Less confidence |
| Researchers say that August-born seven-year-olds are between 2.5 and 3.5 times "more likely to be regarded as below average by their teachers in reading, writing and maths". | Researchers say that August-born seven-year-olds are between 2.5 and 3.5 times "more likely to be regarded as below average by their teachers in reading, writing and maths". |
| They are also 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy at school at the age of seven and at an increased risk of being bullied. | They are also 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy at school at the age of seven and at an increased risk of being bullied. |
| This reflects that these August children can be almost a year younger than their September-born classmates. | This reflects that these August children can be almost a year younger than their September-born classmates. |
| This age gap has not been closed by the time youngsters are ready to leave secondary schools - with August-born teenagers 20% more likely to be in vocational rather than academic study after school. | This age gap has not been closed by the time youngsters are ready to leave secondary schools - with August-born teenagers 20% more likely to be in vocational rather than academic study after school. |
| They are also 20% less likely to be at a leading Russell Group university compared with a September-born teenager. | They are also 20% less likely to be at a leading Russell Group university compared with a September-born teenager. |
| These August children are likely to have lower confidence and less likely to feel they "control their own destiny". | These August children are likely to have lower confidence and less likely to feel they "control their own destiny". |
| This accident of birth can have far-reaching economic significance, says the IFS, as underachievement in qualifications at school will be likely to reduce employment opportunities in adulthood. | This accident of birth can have far-reaching economic significance, says the IFS, as underachievement in qualifications at school will be likely to reduce employment opportunities in adulthood. |
| "This suggests that August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives, simply because of the month in which they were born," says IFS programme director Claire Crawford. | "This suggests that August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives, simply because of the month in which they were born," says IFS programme director Claire Crawford. |
| This research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is intended as a step towards finding a way of tackling the disadvantages of being the youngest in a year group. | This research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is intended as a step towards finding a way of tackling the disadvantages of being the youngest in a year group. |
| The rules for beginning school mean that a child reaches compulsory school age at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. | The rules for beginning school mean that a child reaches compulsory school age at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. |
| However it is usual to start school in the September after a child's fourth birthday, which means that August babies would only just have reached the age of four when they enter the reception class. | However it is usual to start school in the September after a child's fourth birthday, which means that August babies would only just have reached the age of four when they enter the reception class. |
| But parents should have a choice about whether a child is full-time or part-time and there should be the option to defer entry until later in the school year. | But parents should have a choice about whether a child is full-time or part-time and there should be the option to defer entry until later in the school year. |
| "Parents now have the choice of a place in reception classes from the September following a child's fourth birthday, so that their child is ready to start school," said a Department for Education spokesman. | "Parents now have the choice of a place in reception classes from the September following a child's fourth birthday, so that their child is ready to start school," said a Department for Education spokesman. |
| "If parents choose to defer entry, they can continue to access their entitlement to 15 hours of free early education in a setting of their choice." | "If parents choose to defer entry, they can continue to access their entitlement to 15 hours of free early education in a setting of their choice." |