Most children starting school nowadays will be 19 or 20 years old when they finish secondary school following an increase in school starting ages, latest figures show.are increasingly waiting until their children turn five before starting primary school since the introduction of the free pre-school year.
Other factors include admission policies in over-subscribed schools – which prioritise older children – and a growth in the number of children with learning disabilities. New figures show that while 40 per cent of junior infants were four years old in January 2010, this fell to just 23 per cent in 2018.
There is also evidence to show the trend has accelerated, with the recent extension of the early childhood care and education scheme from one to two years.Children may now avail of the free pre-school scheme from the ages of three up to 5½.may be enrolled at primary school from the age of four years and must start formal education by the age of six.
Ireland differs from the majority of European countries, where most children are not admitted to school until they reach six years of age or older.