UK Education Guide · 01
Thai and UK school years
A chart of Thai levels against UK year groups, and a date-of-birth tool that shows which UK year your child would join.
← All guidesLast checked: Oct 2026
In England and Wales, a child's year group depends on their age on 31 August. Thailand's school year starts in May and its levels are named differently, so the same child can look a year 'ahead' or 'behind'. This chart lines them up by age.
Which UK year would my child join?
Enter a date of birth to see the result.
Born 1 September to 31 August = the same UK year. A child born in late August is the youngest in the year; one born in September is the oldest. Some independent schools will place a child a year up or down after assessment.
The chart, by age
| Age on 31 Aug | UK year | Key stage | Thai level | Hong Kong level | Entry point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | NurseryEYFS | EYFS | Anuban 1 (อนุบาล 1) | K1 | |
| 4 | ReceptionEYFS | EYFS | Anuban 2 (อนุบาล 2) | K2 | |
| 5 | Year 1KS1 | KS1 | Anuban 3 (อนุบาล 3) | K3 | |
| 6 | Year 2KS1 | KS1 | Prathom 1 (ป.1) | Primary 1 (P1) | |
| 7 | Year 37+KS2 | KS2 | Prathom 2 (ป.2) | Primary 2 (P2) | 7+ |
| 8 | Year 4KS2 | KS2 | Prathom 3 (ป.3) | Primary 3 (P3) | |
| 9 | Year 5KS2 | KS2 | Prathom 4 (ป.4) | Primary 4 (P4) | |
| 10 | Year 6KS2 | KS2 | Prathom 5 (ป.5) | Primary 5 (P5) | |
| 11 | Year 711+KS3 | KS3 | Prathom 6 (ป.6) | Primary 6 (P6) | 11+ |
| 12 | Year 8KS3 | KS3 | Mattayom 1 (ม.1) | Secondary 1 (S1) | |
| 13 | Year 913+KS3 | KS3 | Mattayom 2 (ม.2) | Secondary 2 (S2) | 13+ |
| 14 | Year 10KS4 | KS4 | Mattayom 3 (ม.3) | Secondary 3 (S3) | |
| 15 | Year 11KS4 | KS4 | Mattayom 4 (ม.4) | Secondary 4 (S4) | |
| 16 | Year 1216+KS5 | KS5 | Mattayom 5 (ม.5) | Secondary 5 (S5) | 16+ |
| 17 | Year 13KS5 | KS5 | Mattayom 6 (ม.6) | Secondary 6 (S6, DSE) |
The Thai column is our own guide by age. The Thai school year starts in May and schools apply their own cut-offs, so your child's current Thai level may be one step either side. International schools in Thailand usually follow the UK or US year system already.
The Hong Kong column is also our own guide by age. Local schools start in September but group children by calendar year of birth (January–December), so a child born between January and August may be one level ahead of the UK row shown. International schools in Hong Kong usually follow the UK, US or IB year system already.
Sources
- GOV.UK — The national curriculum (key stages and year groups)
- GOV.UK — School admissions: when your child starts school
- Education Bureau, Hong Kong — School education
- Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Thailand
Last checked: Oct 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and dates change: always check the official source (GOV.UK, the exam board or the school), or ask us.
Planning a UK school place?
Tell us your child's age and current school, and we will map out the years, tests and deadlines that apply.