Institute for Magical Youths

The Institute for Magical Youths, or IMY, was created by Minerva McGonagall as a source of education for young witches and wizards that will attend Hogwarts, but are too young. Children attend IMY from ages four to eleven or until they receive their Hogwarts letter.

Professor McGonagall decided not to install the houses at IMY as she didn't want this to affect the students placement at Hogwarts. Because IMY has no houses, the professors promote friendships between rival families such as the Malfoys andWeasleys to prompt a better relationship when the children attend Hogwarts.

Because of the installment of IMY, schooling for witches and wizards in Great Britain has been extended to fourteen years rather than seven since children start at IMY at age four or five. IMY is, of course, optional and not all wizarding parents choose to send their children. Some send their children to Muggle schools while others simply homeschool them.

There are seven years in IMY. Because of the numbering of the years at Hogwarts, IMY years were simply named instead of numbered.

Fledging
4-5

Robins
5-6

Wrens
6-7

Crows
7-8

Ravens
8-9

Cygnets
9-10

Swans
10-11