How the national curriculum works
This page refers to the National Curriculum 2014 for England.
Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have separate guidelines.
This page refers to the National Curriculum 2014 for England.
Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have separate guidelines.
The national curriculum began in 1989 and was most recently revised in 2014. It is a set of subjects and standards used by schools so that all children learn the same core topics.
It explains which subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject.
The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’ (KS).
At the end of each key stage, your child will take a formal assessment.
Find out more about what your child will learn in maths each year.
Here are examples of some useful parents’ leaflets (courtesy of Hunnyhill Primary School) which outline what pupils will learn in each year group.
End of year expectations Year 1 Sept 2015
End of year expectations Year 2 Sept 2015
End of year expectations Year 3 Sept 2015
End of year expectations Year 4 Sept 2015
Baseline assessment on entry to school
Tasks and tests for Key stage 1 cover:
Age | Year | Assessment |
5 to 6 | 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. |
6 to 7 | Year 2 | Teacher assessments in English, maths and science. |
At this stage, tests cover:
The tests are taken in mid-May and last under 5.5 hours in total and you’ll get the results in July.
Age | Year | Assessment |
7 to 8 | Year 3 | Teacher Assessments |
8 to 9 | Year 4 | Teacher Assessments |
9 to 10 | Year 5 | Teacher Assessments |
10 to 11 | Year 6 | National tests and teacher assessments in English, maths and science. |
Age | Year | Assessment |
11 to 12 | Year 7 | Teacher assessments |
12 to 13 | Year 8 | Teacher assessments |
13 to 14 | Year 9 | Teacher assessments |
During this stage most pupils work towards national qualifications - usually GCSEs.
The compulsory national curriculum subjects are the ‘core’ and ‘foundation’ subjects.
Age | Year | Assessment |
14 to 15 | Year 10 | Some children take GCSEs |
15 to 16 | Year 11 | Most children take GCSEs or other national qualifications |