By the age of 10 the differences were less but did not disappear until age 12
By the age of 10 the differences were less but did not disappear until age 12. The findings, which will be presented at the British Educational Research Association's annual conference next month, come hard on the heels of accusations from early-years experts that the Government is forcing children into formal education too soon by introducing new goals for five-year-olds. Dougal Hutchinson and Caroline Sharp looked at the reading test scores of pupils at the ages of six, eight, ten and twelve. Studies in the United States, where children in most places start school a year later than those in Britain, have found that the differences between summer- and autumn-born children disappear by about the age of eight, instead of twelve as in Britain. And summer-born children in this country may be at a greater disadvantage than those in other countries because of our early school-starting age, researchers from the National Foundation for Educational Research say. SEPTEMBER'S CHILD outperforms August's child throughout primary school, according to the result of a study of more than 7,200 pupils published today. With it, Lynne Ramsay proves that homegrown talent can compete with anything on the world stage.. Half realism, half reverie, Ramsay's film shows feral children chasing rats through the mounting rubbish but also finds moments of tenderness and unexpected humour such as when James's animal-loving friend Kenny sends his pet mouse into space tied to a helium balloon.Ramsay draws wonderfully natural performances from the non-professional child actors and Eadie is particularly fine as James, with his lean face and inscrutable eyes world-weary and naive at the same time.Ratcatcher is the first Scottish film to open the Edinburgh Film Festival for 25 years.
Shot in a palette of sludgy green and yellow, the film elegantly captures the texture of everyday relationships: James's father is smartly groomed for the pub, while the rest of the family scratch away at their nits.As a coming-of-age tale, Ratcatcher refuses the saccharine voice-over of Hollywood rites of passage movies in favour of a more ambiguous narrative. Escaping to the countryside one day, James finds a half-built house. In what may be a dream, he sees through its unfinished window an idyllic cornfield stretching into the distance.In its spare, unsentimental observation of childhood, Ratcatcher recalls Ken Loach's Kes, but Ramsay eschews kitchen-sink realism for a lyrical, almost impressionistic style of film-making.Her fragmentary story-telling uses carefully composed close-ups to slowly piece together the jigsaw of James' world. Alienated by guilt, he becomes withdrawn from his family, and drawn back to the canal.There, he forms a relationship with Margaret-Anne, a gawky 14-year-old whose loneliness leads her into casual sex with a local gang. Instead, Ryan runs off to play with his friend James (William Eadie) beside the canal that runs past their grimy Glasgow tenement block. The boys scuffle before James pushes Ryan into the fetid water. All that surfaces is a scum of bubbles. The quiet tragedy that opens Ratcatcher is typical of the offbeat perspective adopted by the Scottish director Lynne Ramsay in her first feature film.Set during the refuse collectors' strike of the Seventies, Ratcatcher unfolds through the eyes of 12-year-old James.
Dreamily twisting himself up in a net curtain, he cocoons himself in another world. Then his mother arrives to give him a sharp wake-up call She wants him to come to the shops. Academics want 10 per cent.Exclusive official Ucas vacancy lists appear in The Independent on Thursday (August 19) and continue until mid-September.. AS THE credits roll for Ratcatcher, the film that opened the 53rd Edinburgh Film Festival last night, a young boy plays against a window. We bitterly regret that after years of underpayment and months of unresolved dispute we have had to resort to action affecting university applicants."University employers say their 3.5 per cent pay offer is the most institutions can afford. In an open letter to students, Mr Triesman said: "It is not intended to prevent you from progressing with your education, although we know any delay will be inconvenient and may be distressing. Those who leave because they have chosen the wrong course are not covered. Details of the Saxon Insurance policy, Uni-shield, are in student packs sent out by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas).