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The National Curriculum - what it sets out

The National Curriculum is a framework used by all maintained schools to ensure that teaching and learning is balanced and consistent.

It sets out:

Within the framework of the National Curriculum, schools are free to plan and organise teaching and learning in the way that best meets the needs of their pupils.

Many schools use the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Schemes of Work to plan their curriculum. These help to translate the National Curriculum’s objectives into teaching and learning activities.

• The National Curriculum for five to 11 year olds
• The National Curriculum for 11 to 16 year olds

The National Curriculum key stages

The National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years called 'key stages'.

There are four key stages as well as an ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’. The ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ covers education for children before they reach five (compulsory school age).

Measuring progress

Programmes of study

For each National Curriculum subject, there is a programme of study. The programmes of study describe the subject knowledge, skills and understanding pupils are expected to develop during each key stage.

National Curriculum levels

The programmes of study also map out a scale of attainment within the subject. In most Key Stage 1, 2, and 3 subjects, these “attainment targets” are split into eight levels, plus a description of “exceptional performance”. The exception is Citizenship, which has separate attainment targets for the end of Key Stages 3 and 4.

Children develop at different rates, but National Curriculum levels can give you an idea of how your child’s progress compares to what is typical for their age. For example, by the end of Key Stage 1, most children will have reached level 2, and by the end of Key Stage 2, most will be at level 4.

Your child's school will send you a report telling you what National Curriculum levels your child has reached in any formal assessments.

• View the programmes of study and attainment targets for National Curriculum subjects Opens new window

Teacher assessments

Your child’s teacher will carry out regular checks on their progress in each subject as a normal part of their teaching. At the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 they will carry out a formal “teacher assessment”, indicating which National Curriculum level best describes your child’s performance in each area of learning.

'End of key stage' tests

At the end of Key Stage 1, the teacher’s assessment of your child’s progress will take account of their performance in English and maths, measured by tasks and tests that are administered informally.

At the end of Key Stages 2, your child will take national tests in English, maths and science. Your child will not take a national test at the end of Key Stage 3. At the end of Key Stage 4 they will probably sit exams for GCSEs and/or equivalent qualifications.

The tests won’t give you a complete picture of how your child is doing at school – they provide a “snapshot”, showing how they performed in selected parts of a subject on a particular day. But schools can use the test results as an independent measure of how they, and their pupils, are doing compared to standards across the country.

• National Curriculum teacher assessments and key stage tests

More useful links

• Read about the new secondary curriculum which will be taught from September 2008 Opens new window
• Find out more about the curriculum and qualifications Opens new window
• Find school curriculum information for Wales Opens new window
• Find school curriculum information for Scotland Opens new window
• Find school curriculum information for Northern Ireland Opens new window