Mark Woods: Summer-borns getting left behind
So what to do? Universal recognition of the validity of the issue would be a start. It sits in a murky hinterland at present along with global warming, where overwhelming evidence is ignored by stubborn refuseniks. Hot-house intensive catch-up sessions for the affected children were suggested last week, which sounds like the least likely way to engage a five-year-old in the history of the world.
Surely though, it isn’t beyond us to factor age into exam scores for the first year or two of school to negate this phenomenon, which potentially robs the country of a great swathe of bright talent? Many teachers will already be doing this but for as long as its not properly recognised nationally – as it is in many Scandinavian countries, then when you celebrate your birthday will remain far too significant a factor.
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