National Curriculum

Key Stages

Age

Stage

Year

Test/Qualifications

3-4

Foundation

4-5

Reception

5-6

Key stage 1

Year 1

6-7

Year 2

National tests and tasks in English and mathematics

7-8

Key Stage 2

Year 3

8-9

Year 4

9-10

Year 5

10-11

Year 6

National tests in English,
mathematics and science

11-12

Key Stage 3

Year 7

12-13

Year 8

13-14

Year 9

National tests in English,
mathematics and science

14-15

Key Stage 4

Year 10

Some children take GCSEs

15-16

Year 11

Most children take
GCSEs or other national qualifications

16-17

17-19

Post-compulsory education and or training

Year 12

Year 13

Learning programmes leading to general, vocationally-related and occupational qualifications for example, A level, vocational A level, NVQ, modern apprenticeship