Age-Grade Placement
Age-Grade Placement Information
- Guidelines for out-of-grade placements
- Applying for an out-of-grade placement
- Does the approval to apply for an out-of-grade placement by pre-screening mean that the application will be successful?
Guidelines for out-of-grade placements
Out-of-grade placements are considered very carefully, and on a case-by-case basis, using the following guidelines.
Above-grade placements are only considered for students born between September and December who wish to apply for Grade 9 or above.
Below-grade placements are considered in K2 to Grade 11, for students born between May and August. Applicants for below-grade placement typically have an educational history of below-grade placement at their current school.
Infant School (K1–Grade1) out of grade placement requests, we require a full application submission and review process to be able to assess the applicants’ suitability, including conducting any assessments identified in the application review process. Please note that above-grade placements will not be considered under any circumstances for any of our Infant School grades (K1, K2, Grade 1).
Typically a below-grade placement will not be considered to support a child’s English Language proficiency development or to provide the student additional time to meet grade-level expectations.
All out-of-grade placement requests for Boarding applicants are carefully reviewed in relation to the student’s suitability for the Boarding environment.
Applying for an out-of-grade placement
There are two ways to request an out-of-grade placement:
- If the below- or above-grade placement being requested is within our guideline parameters (outlined above) you can request consideration through the online application system before submitting (paying for) your application. This ‘pre-submission’ means we can advise you on whether or not we will accept the application to join the proposed grade and progress to assessing the application within the entry criteria for that grade.
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In the case of Infant School (K2–Grade1) below-grade placement requests, we require a full application submission and review process to be able to assess the applicants’ suitability, including conducting any assessments identified in the application review process. Note that we do not consider a student for entry to K1 if they do not meet our age-grade boundary requirements. Before opening an application for an Infant School out of grade placement, please email Admissions to explain your request and we will guide you through the process.
- If the below-or above-grade placement being requested is outside of our guideline parameters, please email Admissions to explain why you would like your child to be considered for an out-of-grade placement. For example, that the below- or above-grade placement would be in line with your child's educational history, or grade placement in their previous school. Once we have reviewed your request, we will then advise if, and how, to proceed with an application.
We ask all families to provide school reports for the past two years to support the request. This means we will be looking for reports which support the request to join the grade being proposed within the holistic learning programme which all students in that grade engage in.
Does the approval to apply for an out-of-grade placement by pre-screening mean that the application will be successful?
2023/2024 school year
Placement is based on the age of the student on 1 September 2023.
UWCSEA schools |
UWCSEA grade |
Age of August 2023 entrants |
---|---|---|
Infant School | Kindergarten 1 | 4–5 years (born 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2019) |
Kindergarten 2 (East only) | 5–6 years (born 1 September 2017 – 31 August 2018) |
|
Grade 1 | 6–7 years (born 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017) |
|
Junior School | Grade 2 | 7–8 years (born 1 September 2015 – 31 August 2016) |
Grade 3 | 8–9 years (born 1 September 2014 – 31 August 2015) |
|
Grade 4 | 9–10 years (born 1 September 2013 – 31 August 2014) |
|
Grade 5 | 10–11 years (born 1 September 2012 – 31 August 2013) |
|
Middle School | Grade 6 | 11–12 years (born 1 September 2011 – 31 August 2012) |
Grade 7 | 12–13 years (born 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2011) |
|
Grade 8† | 13–14 years (born 1 September 2009 – 31 August 2010) |
|
High School | Grade 9† | 14–15 years (born 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009) |
Grade 10† | 15–16 years (born 1 September 2007 – 31 August 2008) |
|
Grade 11 IB Diploma† | 16–17 years (born 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2007) |
|
Grade 12†* (no direct entry) | 17–18 years (born 1 September 2005 – 31 August 2006) |
2024/2025 school year
Placement is based on the age of the student on 1 September in the school year of proposed entry. The example for the school year commencing in August 2024 is below.
UWCSEA schools |
UWCSEA grade |
Age of August 2024 entrants |
---|---|---|
Infant School | Kindergarten 1 | 4–5 years (born 1 September 2019 – 31 August 2020) |
Kindergarten 2 (East only) | 5–6 years (born 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2019) |
|
Grade 1 | 6–7 years (born 1 September 2017 – 31 August 2018) |
|
Junior School | Grade 2 | 7–8 years (born 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017) |
Grade 3 | 8–9 years (born 1 September 2015 – 31 August 2016) |
|
Grade 4 | 9–10 years (born 1 September 2014 – 31 August 2015) |
|
Grade 5 | 10–11 years (born 1 September 2013 – 31 August 2014) |
|
Middle School | Grade 6 | 11–12 years (born 1 September 2012 – 31 August 2013) |
Grade 7 | 12–13 years (born 1 September 2011 – 31 August 2012) |
|
Grade 8† | 13–14 years (born 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2011) |
|
High School | Grade 9† | 14–15 years (born 1 September 2009 – 31 August 2010) |
Grade 10† | 15–16 years (born 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009) |
|
Grade 11 IB Diploma† | 16–17 years (born 1 September 2007 – 31 August 2008) |
|
Grade 12†* (no direct entry) | 17–18 years (born 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2007) |
2025/2026 and beyond
Placement is based on the age of the student on 1 September in the school year of proposed entry. The example for the school year commencing in August 2025 is below.
UWCSEA schools |
UWCSEA grade |
Age of August 2025 entrants |
---|---|---|
Infant School | Kindergarten 1 | 4–5 years (born 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021) |
Kindergarten 2 (East only) | 5–6 years (born 1 September 2019 – 31 August 2020) |
|
Grade 1 | 6–7 years (born 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2019) |
|
Junior School | Grade 2 | 7–8 years (born 1 September 2017 – 31 August 2018) |
Grade 3 | 8–9 years (born 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017) |
|
Grade 4 | 9–10 years (born 1 September 2015 – 31 August 2016) |
|
Grade 5 | 10–11 years (born 1 September 2014 – 31 August 2015) |
|
Middle School | Grade 6 | 11–12 years (born 1 September 2013 – 31 August 2014) |
Grade 7 | 12–13 years (born 1 September 2012 – 31 August 2013) |
|
Grade 8† | 13–14 years (born 1 September 2011 – 31 August 2012) |
|
High School | Grade 9† | 14–15 years (born 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2011) |
Grade 10† | 15–16 years (born 1 September 2009 – 31 August 2010) |
|
Grade 11 IB Diploma† | 16–17 years (born 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009) |
|
Grade 12†* (no direct entry) | 17–18 years (born 1 September 2007 – 31 August 2008) |