# Promote students and start the new session

> Move every student up a class into the new academic year in one go, hold back those who repeat, and undo it if needed.

Source: https://pathshala.mjxtechnologies.com/docs/school/promote-to-new-session/

At the end of the year, Pathshala moves every student up one class into the new session in a single step. The top class passes out, anybody you hold back stays where they are, and the whole move can be undone from the same page.

## Before you start

The new academic year must exist. If it does not, the page says so and points you to **Settings**, where you add a session (name such as "2027-28", start and end dates). You can also make a new session from the promote page itself.

## Steps to promote and start the new session

> [!PATH] Apps › School & Academics › Students › Promote / new session

![Students page with the Promote / new session button marked](media/school/promote-to-new-session-1.jpg "Apps › School & Academics › Students › Promote / new session")

![Promote and start the new session page with the Closing session choice marked](media/school/promote-to-new-session-2.jpg "Promote / new session › Sessions")

1. **Sessions.** Choose the **Closing session** and the **New session** (or pick **Make a new session…** and give its name, start and end dates).
2. **Class by class.** Each class is shown going to the next one. Change any of them if your classes do not follow in order. Press [[Hold back]] to tick a student who repeats the year.
3. **Also.** Tick what you want:
   - **Copy this year's fee structure into the new session** — only if the new session has none. You can change amounts later in Fees › Fee structures.
   - **Make the new session the current one** — registers, bills and exams made from now on belong to it.
4. Press [[Promote]].

> [!SUCCESS]
> The promotion appears under **Done before**, for example "2026-27 → 2027-28 · 412 promoted · 6 held back · 48 passed out", with any unpaid bills that moved with the students and how many are waiting for a section.

## How to undo a promotion

1. Scroll to **Done before** on the same page.
2. Press [[Undo]] on the promotion.

The page tells you how many students were put back, and if any were left alone because they had changed since.

## Who can promote?

Owners and Admins (the same people who can add students). The owner can give it to someone else under **Sidebar › Settings › People & roles › Roles & permissions**.

## Tips

- Collect or carry forward the old year's dues before you promote. Unpaid bills move with the student, so nothing is lost, but it is easier to start clean.
- After promoting, give roll numbers class by class with [[Auto-assign Roll Numbers]] on the Students screen.
- Check "waiting for a section": these students moved up but the new class has no matching section. Edit them or add the section.

## Related

- [Add and manage students](school/students)
- [Classes, sections and subjects](school/classes-sections-subjects)

## Questions people ask

### Are last year's marks and bills lost when I promote?

No. Attendance, marks and bills of the closing year stay exactly as they are. Unpaid bills go with the student.

### Can I undo a promotion?

Yes. Every promotion you make is listed under "Done before" with an Undo button.

### Are families told?

No. Nobody is messaged when you promote.

### What happens to roll numbers?

They start afresh in the new session. Give them on the Students screen once the move is done.

### What about the top class?

The top class passes out. Those students are marked as graduated.