Exam time will come a full four months earlier for Kent schoolchildren sitting the 11-plus.

Pupils will take the test on September 18 and 19 this year, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, has confirmed.

The decision comes after Kent County Council asked to bring the date of the test forward so families would know the results before they applied for secondary school places.

It means the majority of pupils, who are currently in Year 5, will be 10 when they sit the examination.

~ 'Utter madness' - critics lambast 11-plus decision >>>

~ What do you think? Join the debate on our SpeakOut here >>> or vote in our poll at the bottom of this page.

Parents must register their child for the test between June 2 and July 11, and Kent Test registration forms will be sent to every primary school in the county and neighbouring authorities.

The assessment results will be notified on October 21, and then parents will have until November 7 to complete their secondary common application form online or send back a hard copy to their primary school.

KCC cabinet member for education operations, resources and skills, Cllr Mark Dance (Con) said: “We put forward the change of date from January to September so that parents can use their choices wisely and not have to gamble on a grammar or comprehensive place.

“I appreciate the concerns of some families about testing earlier in the new school year and I would like to reassure those that the tests are standardised against a national sample and results will take account of the child’s age at the time of testing.”

KCC carried out consultation with parents and said the proposal was referred to the Secretary of State because some parents had reservations.