Are August babies less likely to go to University?
Researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) looked at whether there was a link between the month in which a child was born and what they tend to do when they leave school.
They studied 48,500 children and teenagers in England and found that children born in August were 20% less likely to go to top universities such as Oxford or Cambridge than classmates born eleven months earlier. The study also found that August-born babies were more likely to go on to study vocational courses instead.
A previous study carried out by the IFS, published in 2007, showed that August-born children were less likely to be academically successful than their September born classmates. The researchers also found that teachers were more likely to regard August-born pupils at aged seven as below-average in maths. During the study, teachers reported that 63% of September pupils were very ready to start secondary school when they approached the end of the last year at Primary, whilst 49% of their August-born classmates were less ready.
Claire Crawford, one of the authors of the study, said August-born children may, "end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives, simply because of the month in which they were born".
"Studying for academic qualifications, attending a Russell Group university, and believing that you have control over your own life are all associated with a greater chance of being in work and having higher wages later in life," she said.
Researchers also found that August born children were less confident in their academic abilities and twice as likely at age seven to have been bullied. The differences between August-born children and their September-born classmates were most apparent at primary school than any other time.
On gurgle.com we have noticed that members trying to conceive do have a break in the month of November, because if you got pregnant in November you are likely to give birth in August! Are you an August baby? Or have you had an August baby? Or, would you avoid conceiving in November to stop yourself from having an August baby? Tell us what you think below...
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