Trillian - my point was more that it was never really an issue for us (and the 4 of us did quite differently academically, but all as well as we were able) and then when it really might have been (due to the enormous gap in ages further down the track) it still wasn't.

I completely accept that some kids are ready at 4.5 and some kids aren't ready at 6, and it is not a straightforward determination - for the students or the parents or the teachers or the policy-makers.

And some kids can absolutely do the academic bits, but can't handle the social side, or aren't able to sit quietly in a classroom for any real length of time, or a hundred other elements that teachers - and particularly early primary school teachers - have to negotiate every single day.

My "meh" was more about an arbitrary time - 5 by 1 January, or by 30 April, or 30 April +/- 14 days, or anything else.

I just don't think it's that simple.

And my grumble about the teacher was about her arbitrary "no" before checking what other accelerated classes I was doing, how I was doing in them, whether any other students had been approved and on what basis ... talking to me ... something ... Bueller ... Bueller ...

I think it's something interesting to discuss though, and hear other people's opinions.