San Anton School, in a statement issued yesterday, referred to a lunchtime discussion programme hosted by Manwel Cuschieri and aired on One Radio on Friday.

During the programme, reference was made to a letter sent in 2001 by the then Principal of San Anton School asking parents to decide whether they wished their children to start schooling in Pre-Grade or Grade 1, encouraging them to take the former option.

San Anton School said it wishes to clarify the impression given that the Pre-Grade referred to in the 2001 letter is the same as the Reception Year recently referred to in the media.

San Anton School would like to point out that Pre-Grade and Grade 1 at San Anton School are the equivalent of Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 respectively in State schools, and that children at San Anton start formal schooling at age four and end at age 16.