The national curriculum

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1. Overview

The 鈥榖asic鈥� school curriculum includes the 鈥榥ational curriculum鈥�, as well as relationships, sex and health education, and religious education.

The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things. It covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject.

Other types of school like academies and private schools do not have to follow the national curriculum. Academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum including English, maths and science. They must also teach relationships and sex education, and religious education.

Key stages

The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called 鈥榢ey stages鈥� (KS). At the end of each key stage, the teacher will formally assess your child鈥檚 performance.

Child鈥檚 age Year Key stage Assessment
3 to 4 Not applicable Early years Not applicable
4 to 5 Reception Early years Assessment of pupils鈥� starting points in language, communication, literacy and maths and teacher assessments
5 to 6 Year 1 KS1 Phonics screening check
6 to 7 Year 2 KS1 National tests in English reading and maths. Teacher assessments in maths, science, and English reading and writing
7 to 8 Year 3 KS2 Not applicable
8 to 9 Year 4 KS2 Multiplication tables check
9 to 10 Year 5 KS2 Not applicable
10 to 11 Year 6 KS2 National tests in English reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Teacher assessments in English writing and science
11 to 12 Year 7 KS3 Not applicable
12 to 13 Year 8 KS3 Not applicable
13 to 14 Year 9 KS3 Not applicable
14 to 15 Year 10 KS4 Some children take GCSEs
15 to 16 Year 11 KS4 Most children take GCSEs or other national

Assessments

By the end of each summer term the school must write a report on your child鈥檚 progress and talk it through with you.

2. Key stage 1 and 2

Compulsory national curriculum subjects at primary school are:

  • English
  • maths
  • science
  • design and technology
  • history
  • geography
  • art and design
  • music
  • physical education (PE), including swimming
  • computing
  • ancient and modern foreign languages (at key stage 2)

Primary schools must also provide:

Schools often also teach:

  • personal, social and health education (PSHE)
  • citizenship
  • modern foreign languages (at key stage 1)
  • sex education - parents can ask for their children to be taken out of the lesson

Tests and assessments

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鈥檒l find out how your child did, and their teacher will assess whether he or she needs extra help with reading. If your child does not do well enough in the check they鈥檒l have to do it again in Year 2.

Key stage 1

Key stage 1 tests cover:

  • English reading
  • English grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • maths

Your child will take the tests in May. You can ask the school for the test results.

You鈥檒l be sent the results of your child鈥檚 teacher assessments automatically.

Key stage 2

Your child will take national tests in May when they reach the end of key stage 2. These test your child鈥檚 skills in:

  • English reading
  • English grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • maths

The tests last less than 4 hours. You鈥檒l get the results in July.

The school will send you the results of your child鈥檚 tests and teacher assessments.

3. Key stage 3 and 4

Key stage 3

Compulsory national curriculum subjects are:

  • English
  • maths
  • science
  • history
  • geography
  • modern foreign languages
  • design and technology
  • art and design
  • music
  • physical education
  • citizenship
  • computing

Schools must also provide:

Key stage 4

During key stage 4 most pupils work towards national qualifications - usually GCSEs.

The compulsory national curriculum subjects are the 鈥榗ore鈥� and 鈥榝oundation鈥� subjects.

Core subjects are:

  • English
  • maths
  • science

Foundation subjects are:

  • computing
  • physical education
  • citizenship

Schools must also offer at least one subject from each of these areas:

  • arts
  • design and technology
  • humanities
  • modern foreign languages

They must also provide relationships, sex and health education, and religious education (RE) at key stage 4.

English Baccalaureate (EBacc)

The EBacc is a way to measure how many pupils in a school choose to take a GCSE in these core subjects:

  • English language and literature
  • maths
  • the sciences
  • history or geography
  • a language

Find out more about the EBacc.

4. Other compulsory subjects

Children might also need to study relationships, sex and health education, and religious education (RE).

What your child must study depends on the subject, and whether your child is in primary or secondary school.

They may not have to take exams in these subjects.

Schools must have a written policy on relationships education (primary schools) and relationships and sex education (secondary schools), which they must make available to parents for free.

Relationships education

Relationships education is compulsory for all primary and secondary school pupils.

Sex education

Sex education is compulsory in secondary schools. Parents can ask to withdraw their child from parts or all of sex education taught as part of relationships and sex education. Parents cannot withdraw their child from sex education taught in science.

Primary schools can choose to teach sex education but it鈥檚 not compulsory. Parents can withdraw their child from sex education in primary school.

Health education

Health education is compulsory for all pupils in state-funded primary and secondary schools.

Religious education

Schools have to teach RE but parents can withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they鈥檙e 18.

Local councils are responsible for deciding the RE syllabus, but faith schools and academies can set their own.