1. Overview
The ‘basic’ school curriculum includes the ‘national curriculum’, as well asreligious education and sex education.
The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things. It covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject.
Other types of school like academies and private schools don’t have to follow the national curriculum. Academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum including English, maths and science. They must also teach religious education.
Key stages
The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’ (KS). At the end of each key stage, the teacher will formally assess your child’s performance.
| Age | Year | Key stage | Assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | Early years | |||
| 4 to 5 | Reception | Early years | Teacher assessments (there’s also an optional assessment at the start of the year) | |
| 5 to 6 | Year 1 | KS1 | Phonics screening check | |
| 6 to 7 | Year 2 | KS1 | National tests and teacher assessments in English, maths and science | |
| 7 to 8 | Year 3 | KS2 | ||
| 8 to 9 | Year 4 | KS2 | ||
| 9 to 10 | Year 5 | KS2 | ||
| 10 to 11 | Year 6 | KS2 | National tests and teacher assessments in English and maths, and teacher assessments in science | |
| 11 to 12 | Year 7 | KS3 | ||
| 12 to 13 | Year 8 | KS3 | ||
| 13 to 14 | Year 9 | KS3 | ||
| 14 to 15 | Year 10 | KS4 | Some children take GCSEs | |
| 15 to 16 | Year 11 | KS4 | Most children take GCSEs or other national qualifications |
Assessments
By the end of each summer term the school must write a report on your child’s progress and talk it through with you.
Children who are in years 2 and 6 at the moment will take the new national primary curriculum tests in 2016.
2. Key stage 1 and 2
Compulsory national curriculum subjects at primary school are:
English
maths
science
design and technology
history
geography
art and design
music
physical education (PE), including swimming
computing
ancient and modern foreign languages (at key stage 2)
Schools must provide religious education (RE) but parents can ask for their children to be taken out of the whole lesson or part of it.
Schools often also teach:
1.personal, social and health education (PSHE)
2.citizenship
3.modern foreign languages (at key stage 1)
Tests and assessments
Year 1 phonics screening check
The check will take place in June when your child will read 40 words out loud to a teacher. You’ll find out how your child did, and their teacher will assess whether he or she needs extra help with reading. If your child doesn’t do well enough in the check they’ll have to do it again in Year 2.
Key stage 1
Key stage 1 tests cover:
1.English reading
2.English grammar, punctuation and spelling
3.maths
Your child will take the tests in May. You can ask the school for the test results.
You’ll be sent the results of your child’s teacher assessments automatically.
Key stage 2
Your child will take national tests in May when they reach the end of key stage 2. These test your child’s skills in:
1.English reading
2.English grammar, punctuation and spelling
3.maths
The tests last less than 4 hours. You’ll get the results in July.
The school will send you the results of your child’s tests and teacher assessments.
3. Key stage 3 and 4
Key stage 3
Compulsory national curriculum subjects are:
English
maths
science
history
geography
modern foreign languages
design and technology
art and design
music
physical education
citizenship
computing
Schools must provide religious education (RE) and sex education from key stage 3 but parents can ask for their children to be taken out of the whole lesson or part of it.
Key stage 4
During key stage 4 most pupils work towards national qualifications - usually GCSEs.
The compulsory national curriculum subjects are the ‘core’ and ‘foundation’ subjects.
Core subjects are:
English
maths
science
Foundation subjects are:
computing
physical education
citizenship
Schools must also offer at least one subject from each of these areas:
arts
design and technology
humanities
modern foreign languages
They must also provide religious education (RE) and sex education at key stage 4.
English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
In performance tables, the EBacc shows how many students got a GCSE grade C or above in English, maths, 2 sciences, a language, and history or geography.
4. Other compulsory subjects
Children must also study:
1.sex and relationships education (year 7 onwards)
2.religious education (RE)
They may not have to take exams in these subjects.
Sex and relationship education
Sex and relationship education (SRE) is compulsory from age 11 onwards. It involves teaching children about reproduction, sexuality and sexual health. It doesn’t promote early sexual activity or any particular sexual orientation.
Some parts of sex and relationship education are compulsory - these are part of the national curriculum for science. Parents can withdraw their children from all other parts of sex and relationship education if they want.
All schools must have a written policy on sex education, which they must make available to parents for free.
Religious education
Schools have to teach RE but parents can withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they’re 18.
Local councils are responsible for deciding the RE syllabus, but faith schoolsand academies can set their own.
