UK National Curriculum

Key Stage 1

The two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or primary school. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in at least 11 areas:

English
Mathematics
Science
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Design Technology
History
Geography
Art and Design
Music
Physical Education
Religious Education

At the end of this stage, pupils aged 7 - in Year 2 - are normally assessed as part of the national programme of assessment, colloquially known as SATs. These tasks, conducted by the teacher, cover English, Mathematics and Science.

Key Stage 2

The four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11.  All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in at least 12 areas:

English
Mathematics
Science
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Design Technology
History
Geography
Modern Foreign Language
Art and Design
Music
Physical Education
Religious Education

At the end of this stage, pupils aged 11 - in Year 6 - are tested as part of the national programme of National Curriculum Tests, colloquially known as SATs. These tests cover English, Mathematics and Science. The tests are externally marked, with results for each school being published in DfES performance tables.

Key stages with the corresponding school phase and age group are listed in the table below.

Age Group Key Stage Infant Primary Secondary
3-4 Foundation Nursery
4-5 Foundation Reception
5-7 Key stage 1 Year 1 & 2
7-11 Key stage 2 Year 3,4,5,6
11-14 Key stage 3 Year 7,8,9
14-16 Key stage 4 Year 10,11
16-18 Key stage 5 Year 12,13

Key Stage 3

The first three years of Secondary schooling, Year 7, 8 and 9 covering the 11-14 age group. Pupils must follow the relevant programmes of study from the National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in at least 15 areas:

English
Mathematics
Science
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Design Technology
History
Geography
Modern Foreign Language
Art and Design
Music
Physical Education
Citizenship
Sex Education
Careers Education
Religious Education

At the end of this stage, pupils aged 14 - in Year 9 - are tested as part of the national programme of National Curriculum Tests. These tests cover English, Mathematics and Science. The tests are externally marked, with results published in performance tables.

Key Stage 4

The final two years of compulsory Secondary schooling, Year 10 and 11 covering the 14-16 age groups. Pupils who must follow the relevant programmes of study from the National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in the following areas:

English
Mathematics
Science
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Physical Education
Citizenship
Sex Education
Careers Education
Religious Education
Work Related Learning

In addition, there is a statutory duty on schools to provide an optional programme of education for pupils in this Key Stage in each of the following areas:

The Arts
Design and Technology
The Humanities
Modern foreign Languages

At the end of this stage, pupils aged 16 in Year 11 are normally entered for a range of external examinations. These examinations are known as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams. They are set by one of the Examination boards and the results are published as part of the Department for Education and Skills' Performance Tables.

Key Stage 5

The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification, usually taken by students during the optional final two years of secondary school (Years 12 & 13, commonly called the Sixth Form), covering the 16-18 age group. Universities in the United Kingdom frequently demand that applicants achieve a minimum set of grades in A-level examinations.

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