Petition · past parliament
Raise compulsory education starting age to 7
Rejected
18 signatures
What the petition asks
The current starting age in this country is far too young when compared to the European Continent. 4 or 5 is too young an age and can cause unnecessary pressure on parent, teacher and child due to the child being thrust into a more "mature" environment when they are not ready for it.
The starting age of compulsory education in this country is the same as in the Netherlands - 5 (or the year in which a pupil approaches their 5th birthday). It is too young to start formal schooling. Compare this to almost all nations in Continental Europe, where the age is raised to 7 - there is less stress and the people are happier and more satisfied. Children need time to mature at their own pace, and forcing them into premature schooling is not the answer.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
Timeline
| 14 Aug 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 15 Aug 2016 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
18
Status
Rejected
Rejected
15 Aug 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.