Further information

THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM

Pupils aged five to sixteen in maintained schools must be taught the National Curriculum.

This is divided into four Key Stages that generally depend on children's ages.

During Key Stage 2 the statutory subjects that all pupils must study are art and design, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, music, physical education and science. Religious education must also be provided.

Levels of achievement

The National Curriculum sets standards of achievement in each subject for pupils aged five to fourteen. For most subjects, these standards range from Levels 1 through to 8.

In primary schools:

• most seven year olds are expected to achieve Level 2
• most eleven year olds are expected to achieve Level 4.

Teacher assessments

Throughout the year, all teachers assess their pupils' progress in each subject as a normal part of their teaching. The teacher decides which level best describes a pupil's performance in each area of learning in that subject. They must report their assessments in English, mathematics and science when pupils reach the end of each key stage.

Teacher assessments are not reported in the Primary School Achievement and Attainment Tables.

Tests

National tests, taken at the end of each key stage, give a snapshot of a pupil's attainment in the core subjects.

At the end of KS2, pupils are tested in English, mathematics and science.

These end of key stage tests give an independent and nationally standardised measure of how pupils and schools are performing compared with national standards in the core subjects.

Using the following table you can compare your child's test result against the expected level for their age group.