The statutory curriculum for maintained schools consists of
- The National Curriculum (ages 5-16)
- Religious Education (ages 5-18)
- Sex Education (ages 11-18)
The current National Curriculum is set out in the primary National Curriculum until 2014 and secondary National Curriculum until 2014 sections. Further information is available on the 2014 National Curriculum page.
Religious education is compulsory for all pupils registered in maintained schools up to the age of 18. Maintained schools must follow their locally agreed syllabus. Maintained schools must also provide a daily act of collective worship that should be broadly Christian, unless the school has been granted a determination to conduct collective worship of another faith.
Sex and relationship education (SRE) is also compulsory for all pupils registered in maintained secondary schools. Maintained schools should have regard to this guidance when providing SRE. Primary schools do not have to teach SRE, but must have a policy on whether to do so.
Maintained schools must also publish curriculum and other information on their websites as follows: School Information Regulations 2012.
Academies do not have to teach the National Curriculum. However, they must teach a broad and balanced curriculum including English, mathematics, science and religious education. They do not have to follow the locally agreed syllabus for religious education but can devise their own. They must also provide a daily act of collective worship that should be broadly Christian, unless the school has been granted a determination to conduct collective worship of another faith.
All schools must also comply with statutory duties on testing and assessment.
