Key Stage Results
The National Curriculum is organised into groups of years, called key stages. Most children at the age shown in the table will be following the curriculum set out for the corresponding key stage:
|
Age 4-5 |
Early Years Foundation Stage |
|
Age 6-7 |
Key Stage 1 |
|
Age 8-11 |
Key Stage 2 |
|
Age 12-14 |
Key Stage 3 |
|
Age 15-16 |
Key Stage 4 |
At the end of each key stage, pupils’ progress will be assessed by their teachers (‘Teacher Assessment’) and additionally, in certain key stages, by tests and other examinations, the results of which are publicly available.
Post-16 education is not covered by the national curriculum. The two year period that many students spend studying for GCE A levels or their equivalents is unofficially known as Key Stage 5. These results are also publically available.
Published results
Key Stage 2: Children aged 8 to 11
At the end of Key Stage 2 pupils are tested in English and mathematics. Results are published by the Department for Education (DfE) on its performance tables website (see 'Related Links'). The site shows results by school and authority.
Key Stage 3: Children aged 12 to 14
Tests of students’ progress and attainment at the end of key stage 3 are no longer compulsory and no test scores are published. However, schools do have to report teacher assessments in the core subjects (English, maths and science) to the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and make them available to parents. The assessments are published at authority level and are available from the DfE website (see 'Related Links').
Key Stage 4: Children aged 15 to 16
Results of examinations taken at the end of key stage 4 (GCSEs and equivalents) are published by the DfE on its performance tables website (see 'Related Links'). The site shows results by school and authority.
Key Stage 5: Children aged 16+
Most students enrolled in a school sixth-form or sixth-form college and some of those enrolled at a further education (FE) sector college are following two year courses leading to GCE A levels and Btecs. The results are published by DfE on their performance table website (see 'Related Links').
If you have any questions about the key stage results information, you should first contact the school concerned. You could also find out more by asking for copies of the school prospectus or governors' annual report.
