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What are the key stages of the national curriculum?

Author

James Craig

Updated on February 21, 2026

What are the key stages of the national curriculum?

What are the Key Stages in the National Curriculum?
  • Key Stage 1. Key Stage 1 covers ages 5-7 and years 1 and 2 at school.
  • Key Stage 2. Key Stage 2 covers ages 7-11 and school years 3 to 6.
  • Key Stage 3. Key Stage 3 refers to the first 3 years of secondary school, covering ages 11-14 and school years 7-9.
  • Key Stage 4.

Just so, how many key stages are there in the national curriculum?

four

Subsequently, question is, what do key stages mean? Key Stages refer to the sets of skills and knowledge a student is aiming to develop at a certain stage in their education. There are four Key Stages throughout our Primary 1 - Secondary 11 classes. Brief Descriptions of the Key Stages. Key Stage 1 includes students at 5 to 7 years of age.

Just so, what is the difference between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2?

Key Stage 1 covers first and second primary school years (reception year is covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage). Key Stage 2 covers third to sixth primary school years. The subjects which are covered in Key Stages 1 and 2 are the same: English.

What are the key stages in school?

  • Early Years Foundation Stage – ages 3-5 (Nursery and Reception)
  • Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1 and 2)
  • Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)

What age group is year1?

Key stages
Child's ageYearKey stage
5 to 6Year 1KS1
6 to 7Year 2KS1
7 to 8Year 3KS2
8 to 9Year 4KS2

What is Key Stage 4 curriculum?

Key Stage 4 (KS4) is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other examinations, in maintained schools in England normally known as Year 10 and Year 11, when pupils are aged between 14 and 15 by August 31st. (In some schools, KS4 work is started in Year 9.)

What ages are key stages?

Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1-2) Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6) Key Stage 3 – ages 11-14 (Years 7-9) Key Stage 4 – ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)

Is Year 6 primary or secondary?

It is also the final year of Key Stage 2 in which the National Curriculum is taught. It is also the year in which all students in maintained schools undertake National Curriculum tests (known as SATs) in the core subjects of English and Mathematics. Year 6 is usually the final year of Primary or Junior School.

What age is year 12 in England?

ACS Hillingdon Grade Placement
AgeUK YearsIB Education Programmes
14 - 15Year 10Middle Years Programme
15 - 16Year 11
16 - 17Year 12 / Lower 6thIB Diploma
17 - 18Year 13 / Upper 6th

What is the highest key stage?

What are the key stages and their age groups?
  • Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – ages 3-5 (Nursery and Reception)
  • Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1-2)
  • Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)
  • Key Stage 3 – ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)
  • Key Stage 4 – ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)

What is the purpose of the national curriculum?

The National Curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the core knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It aims to: “embody rigour and high standards and create coherence in what is taught in schools.

What is the Key Stage 1 curriculum?

What is KS1 (Key Stage 1)? Key Stage 1 is a part of the National Curriculum. It covers children between the ages of 5 and 7 in Years 1 and 2, and sets out which subjects have to be taught. It also determines how children should be tested.

What is the Key Stage 2 curriculum?

KS2 is a part of the National Curriculum. This tells schools what subjects to teach and it tells teachers which topics to cover and at what level. As well as subjects and topics, the National Curriculum also sets out how KS2 pupils should be tested or assessed and the level they should achieve.

What is a key stage 1 teacher?

Key Stage 1 is the legal term for 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 Teacher, although in some cases this might form part of a first or primary school.

What are core subjects in primary?

the 'core' subjects of English, mathematics and science. the 'foundation' subjects - art and design, computing, design and technology, geography, history, music, physical education (PE), and a foreign language in Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11).

What should a Year 1 child know?

In Year 1, children will need to count forwards and backwards up to 100. They will need to know their addition and subtraction facts to 20.

What age group is primary school?

A primary school (in Ireland, the UK), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in US & Canada) is a school for children from about four to eleven years old, in which they receive primary or elementary education.

What key stage is sixth form?

Key Stage 5

What subjects are needed for primary teaching?

In addition to the points required for entry to Bachelor of Education programmes of primary initial teacher education, the Department of Education and Skills specifies minimum entry requirements that students must meet in the core subjects: Maths, English and Irish.

Is Key Stage 1 SATs compulsory?

KS1 SATs are compulsory for all Year 2 pupils (usually 7 year olds) and KS2 SATs are compulsory for all Year 6 pupils (usually 11-year-olds) in England. In 2017 the Department for Education announced that the KS1 (Year 2) SATs will be made non-statutory from 2023.

How many subjects are taught in primary?

11 subjects

What is enrollment key stage?

Answer: Key Stages talk over the sets of skills and knowledge a student is progressing to develop at a specific stage in their education. We document the training processed by using portfolios. In these portfolios, students place samples of their work throughout the year.

Is reception the same as primary 1?

'Reception' is the name given to the final year of early years education in England and Wales. In Scotland, there is no equivalent name as children progress straight from 'Nursery' through to 'Primary 1' (when in England and Wales they would be entering 'Year One').

What should a Year 4 child know?

In Year 4, your child will be learning to add and subtract numbers with up to four digits using column addition and subtraction. They will continue to learn their times tables, so that by the end of the year they are confident in all of them up to the 12 times table.

What year is a 7 year old in?

Your child's year group
Date of birthSchool year 2020-2021Age
September 2005 - August 2006Year 1014 - 15
September 2006 - August 2007Year 913 - 14
September 2007 - August 2008Year 812 - 13
September 2008 - August 2009Year 711 - 12

What is a curriculum in education?

Curriculum is the expectations for what will be taught and what students will do in a program of study. It includes teacher-made materials, textbooks, and national and state standards. Curriculum is the gathered information that has been considered relevant to a specific topic.

How do I reference the national curriculum?

When citing the national curriculum, the author is usually the Department for Education (DfE). You need to include the year of publication along with the title of the document, the web address and when you accessed it.

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