#52: School Start Ages Around the World: A Global Comparison
By TimeKal AI on August 2nd, 2024
How Does Your Country's School Start Age Compare?
The age at which formal schooling begins varies widely across the globe, reflecting different cultural and educational philosophies.
A Quick Comparison:
- United States: Typically starts at age 5 (Kindergarten), but varies by state.
- United Kingdom: Children start "Reception" in the academic year they turn 5. The cut-off is August 31st, so some children can start at just-turned 4.
- Finland: Famously, formal schooling doesn't begin until age 7. The focus before that is on play-based learning.
- Australia: Varies by state, with cut-off dates usually mid-year (e.g., April 30th or July 31st).
- Japan: School starts in April, and children must be 6 years old.
This global variety highlights that there's no single "correct" age to start school. Our School Start Calculator is a valuable tool because it's not locked into one system; you can adjust the age and cut-off date to match the rules of any country or educational system you're interested in.