My DS was born on 30 May 2005, so according to the QLD cut-off will be one of the youngest in his year. I've read in a number of places that it's better for boys to be older rather than younger. I know that legally children are supposed to have started school in time to be 6 by 30 June of that year - so 5 by 30 June prep year and only 4 on 30 June of the pre-prep year. Working by this my ds will only be 3 and a half when starting pre-prep.

Strangely most of the people I meet aren't happy because they want their kids to start earlier (I guess if one had a girl born on 1 July this would be rather frustrating!), but I'd really like the option to keep him back - if he doesn't seem ready. Is it possible to do such a thing? In such a situation would the child then compete in sports with other kids in his class (younger than him) or those in the year above (11 months worth will be older than him).

I realise that obviously there will be older and younger children in each class, but I'm just worried that my ds will struggle being the youngest - esp as girls in the class will probably be a lot more mature than him.

Thanks for any info

ps. Wouldn't it make more sense to run school years according to the same calendar as the actual terms run?