The National Curriculum

What is the National Curriculum and why does it matter to parents?

The National Curriculum:

sets out the most important knowledge and skills that every child has a right to learn
is a framework given to teachers by government, so that all school children are taught in a way that is balanced and manageable, but hard enough to challenge them
gives standards that measure how well children are doing in each subject - so teachers can plan to help them do better.

Stages, years, national tests and tasks - How does it all work?

The National Curriculum says when things must be taught by describing broad 'key stages'. The chart below shows the different key stages, and when national tests and tasks are taken:

Age	Key Stage	Year Group	Tests
3-4	Foundation
4-5	Foundation
5-6	Key Stage 1	Year 1
6-7	Key Stage 1	Year 2	National tests and tasks in English and maths
7-8	Key Stage 2	Year 3
8-9	Key Stage 2	Year 4
9-10	Key Stage 2	Year 5
10-11	Key Stage 2	Year 6	National tests in English, maths and science
11-12	Key Stage 3	Year 7
12-13	Key Stage 3	Year 8
13-14	Key Stage 3	Year 9	National tests in English, maths and science
14-15	Key Stage 4	Year 10	Some children take GCSEs
15-16	Key Stage 4	Yea 11	Most children take GCSEs, GNVQs or other national qualifications

Schools are free to organise teaching within this time as they think best. They create their own plans, term by term and year by year.

Key Stages and National Curriculum Levels

At the end of the National Curriculum key stages 1, 2 and 3 your child will sit national tests and tasks (popularly called 'SATs'). At the end of key stage 4 they will sit national examinations, often GCSEs.

Source: DfES

Further details can be obtained from:- DfES - Parents' Centre

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