Hogwarts (was British) school system

[David]

No: HPFGUIDX 28951

Sara wrote:

> So, the letters didn't arrive *on* Harry's birthday, but just 
before, 
> however, it was still July when they were sent. I think that 
Hogwarts, like 
> other schools/doctors etc. every month they check for birthdays of 
> prospective students occuring in that month. 

I don't believe it makes sense for the letters to be sent out 
monthly, as they refer to the start of the new school year.

Consider Ginny's letter.  IIRC, she had, along with all the other 
years, to get the complete works of Gilderoy Lockhart for school.  
But Lockhart was only appointed after it was known that Quirrell was 
an ex-DADA teacher.  So I think all first year Hogwarts letters are 
sent out in the summer holidays.  As it happens, that is close to 
Harry's birthday.  I think Arthur Weasley also makes a comment in COS 
which implies they all come out at about the same time.

It is a nice touch that Harry gets his letter after (in fact, many 
months after) it has been decided that he will go to Stonewall High 
and Dudley to Smeltings, and shows the general disregard of the WW 
for Muggle convenience.  Hermione had possibly been expecting for six 
months to take up a scholarship at her local grammar.

This is, of course, independent of the question of which year, 
academic or calendar (or financial?), is used to determine who counts 
as 'turning' 11 at the time the letter is sent.

The question of Hermione's age is discussed both in the FAQs at
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/faq/hermione.html
and the Lexicon at
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/timeline_hermione.html#birthyear

The 'British' (old Hermione) position follows more or less the 
argument that you put forward; the 'Young Hermione' position requires 
Hogwarts to buck standard UK Muggle educational practice in one way 
or another - not difficult to imagine for a magical school.

David