Hey Raha blog · School life
School year groups explained: UK years, US and Canadian grades and Australian years by age
Moving country with children? The first question is usually which year your child goes into. In short: an English Year 2 child is usually in US or Canadian Grade 1, and in Australian Year 1 or 2 depending on the state and birthday. Cut-off dates differ, so always check with the school.
Side-by-side comparison by age
Ages are the child's age at the start of the school year. Exact placement depends on local cut-off dates.
| Age at start of year | England and Wales | US | Canada (most provinces) | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | Nursery | Pre-K (where offered) | Junior Kindergarten in Ontario if 4 by 31 Dec; otherwise not usually school age | Preschool (name varies by state) |
| 4 to 5 | Reception | Pre-K | Kindergarten in some provinces (Junior or Senior Kindergarten in Ontario) | Preschool, or Foundation in some states |
| 5 to 6 | Year 1 | Kindergarten | Kindergarten (Senior Kindergarten in Ontario) | Foundation year |
| 6 to 7 | Year 2 | Grade 1 | Grade 1 | Year 1 |
| 7 to 8 | Year 3 | Grade 2 | Grade 2 | Year 2 |
| 8 to 9 | Year 4 | Grade 3 | Grade 3 | Year 3 |
| 9 to 10 | Year 5 | Grade 4 | Grade 4 | Year 4 |
| 10 to 11 | Year 6 | Grade 5 | Grade 5 | Year 5 |
| 11 to 12 | Year 7 | Grade 6 | Grade 6 | Year 6 |
| 12 to 13 | Year 8 | Grade 7 | Grade 7 | Year 7 |
| 13 to 14 | Year 9 | Grade 8 | Grade 8 | Year 8 |
| 14 to 15 | Year 10 | Grade 9 | Grade 9 | Year 9 |
| 15 to 16 | Year 11 (GCSEs) | Grade 10 | Grade 10 | Year 10 |
| 16 to 17 | Year 12 | Grade 11 | Grade 11 | Year 11 |
| 17 to 18 | Year 13 (A levels) | Grade 12 | Grade 12 | Year 12 |
The Australia column assumes the child started Foundation at about 5; in practice many children are a little older because of state cut-offs.
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In England, children usually start Reception in the September after they turn 4 and must be in education from the term after their fifth birthday. The school year runs September to August, so the cut-off is 1 September. Key stages: Key Stage 1 is Years 1 and 2, Key Stage 2 is Years 3 to 6, Key Stage 3 is Years 7 to 9 and Key Stage 4 is Years 10 and 11 (source: GOV.UK). Scotland uses Primary 1 to 7 and S1 to S6, and Northern Ireland uses a different numbering, so check if you're moving there.
US grades
US schools run Kindergarten then Grades 1 to 12. Most states use a birthday cut-off around 1 September for Kindergarten entry at age 5, but it varies by state and district. Elementary, middle and high school splits also vary by district. UNCONFIRMED for any specific state: check the state education department.
Canadian grades
Canada's provinces run their own systems. Most use Kindergarten then Grades 1 to 12. Ontario has two kindergarten years (Junior and Senior Kindergarten). Quebec ends secondary school after Secondary 5, followed by CEGEP. Cut-offs are usually by calendar year (born in the same year start together), but check your province. See our Canada school calendar 2026-27.
Australian years
Australia runs Foundation then Years 1 to 12, on a calendar school year starting in late January or early February. The first year has different names by state: Kindergarten in NSW and the ACT, Prep in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania, Reception in South Australia, Pre-primary in Western Australia and Transition in the Northern Territory. Cut-offs differ by state. See our Australia school term dates 2026-27.
Moving country: what to check
- Birthday and cut-off. A child born in July can land in different year groups in England and Australia.
- School year start. Moving from a September system to a January system (Australia) can mean joining mid-year.
- Exams. Avoid moving in GCSE years (Years 10 and 11) or the final two years of high school if you can.
- In the Gulf, British, American, IB and Indian schools each use their own system. See our IB school calendars in the Gulf.
New school, new apps and new emails: our school emails survival guides for the UK, US and Canada, Australia and the Gulf help you set up from day one. Looking for clubs once you've arrived? Start with London or Doha.
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What US grade is UK Year 2?
Usually Grade 1. UK Year groups are roughly one number higher than US grades, but check the cut-off date.
What year is a 10-year-old in in the UK?
A child who is 10 at the start of the school year (1 September in England) is usually in Year 6.
What is Foundation year in Australia?
It is the first year of school, at about age 5. It has different names by state, such as Kindergarten in NSW and Prep in Queensland and Victoria.
Does Canada use the same grades as the US?
Mostly. Most provinces run Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 12, but Ontario has two kindergarten years and Quebec has CEGEP after Secondary 5.
Sources
- GOV.UK, The national curriculum (key stages and year groups)
- GOV.UK, School starting age
- Australian Curriculum (ACARA), Foundation to Year 10 (UNCONFIRMED: not fetched; state names for Foundation from general knowledge, verify with each state department)
- US: National Center for Education Statistics, state kindergarten entrance ages table (UNCONFIRMED: not fetched)
- Canada: provincial education ministries, e.g. Ontario kindergarten (UNCONFIRMED: not fetched)
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