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 each child’s performance.
Age 3 to 5 - Early Years
Age 5 to 7 - KS1
Age 7 to 11 - KS2
Age 11 to 14 - KS3
Age 14 to 16 - KS4
Age 16 to 18 - KS5 (or commonly known as Sixth Form or College)
| Key Stages | Core Subjects | Foundation Subjects |
| 1 | English, Maths, Science | Art & design, Computing, Design & technology, Geography, history, Music, Physical education |
| 2 | English, Maths, Science | Art & design, Computing, Design & technology, Geography, history, Music, Physical education, Language (Foreign Language) |
| 3 | English, Maths, Science | Art & design, Computing, Design & technology, Geography, history, Music, Physical education, Language (Modern Foreign Language), Citizenship |
| 4 | English, Maths, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | Citizenship, Computing, Physical education |
They have foreign languages in KS2 and modern languages in KS3. All keys stages have religious education and secondary schools have sex and relationship education.
Examination Boards
Broadly speaking, the UK has always had two separate school systems: one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; and one for Scotland. As a result, two separate sets of exam boards have been developed.
