Month of birth and its relationship to streaming in the primary school

Abstract

This study is concerned with an investigation into the relationship between month of birth and stream placement in the primary school. It is particularly concerned with the possibility that, where traditional streaming is implemented, there may be an under-estimation of the younger children in a school year age group. Streaming is usually defined as "grouping according to ability with considerations of attainment", but, in practice, only attainment seems to be assessed adequately, and ability tends to be given less attention. In the traditionally streamed primary school, allocation is usually based on attainment level at the time of leaving the infant department. It is possible that some of the younger children in the year group, who have matured less intellectually, and who have had less time in the infant department to benefit from early formal tuition, may be under-estimated and placed in lower streams than their potential would warrant. In the study 1000 children from 5 schools, 500 in the first year of the junior department and 500 in the fourth year, were investigated with respect to Month of Birth, I.Q., and Stream Placement. Results showed that, although, in general, the children were successfully streamed, and although no birth months were superior with respect to intelligence, the younger children tended to be placed more readily in the lower streams. This was the case at first year level but not at fourth year level. Thus, although there was a tendency for early underestimation of the younger children of the school year group, this seemed to be rectified later to a great extent.