Question for British list members/school years

[Steve]

---  "Jayne" <jaynesmith62 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10@> wrote:

> > >
> > > Geoff:
> > > > > 
> > Can I make it clear that when I say, for example, entry at 
> > five, this means the September following the child's fifth
> > birthday, sometimes called 5+.

> Jayne:
> 
> Although nowadays they start in the year they turn 5, in the 
> September even if they are not 5 until the following August
> 
> Hope that is not too confusing also
> 
> Jayne
>


bboyminn:

Actually, it is a little confusing. Let me restate both cases
and see if I understand it right.

In Geoff's case, he is simply saying, you have to be age 5 when
you start school, no exceptions. I assume this means the cut-off
date is the first day of school. 

Jayne is saying that you have to be age 5 or turn age 5 during 
the school year (the SCHOOL year, not the calendar year).

So, in Jayne's case, if a child is age 4, and in MAY of the 
following calendar year they turn age 5, they could start 
school in the previous September because they would turn 5 
during the school year. Our school year is usually the 
beginning of September through the end of May; with June, July,
and August being the typical three month summer holiday.

In the USA, where we have a nasty habit of trying to 
accommodate anyone who complains, especially if they have
money and status, the cut-off date is always in contention.
There is always some kid who turns the correct age a day or
two after the cut-off date and  whose parents think it is 
unfair that they can't start school with their friends. 
Consequently, they cut-of dates are shifted all over the place
trying to set a reasonable cut-off while accommodating the 
complainers. 

So, do I understand both sides correctly?

Steve/bboyminn