Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. This
Key Stage normally covers pupils during
junior schools, although in some cases part of all of this stage may fall in a
middle, while others part of a through
primary school.
The term is defined in the
Education Act 2002 as "the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of eight and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of eleven"
[Defined in section 82 of the Education Act 2002]The term is used to define the group of pupils who must follow the relevant programmes of study from the
National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in at least 12 areas
[Set out on the National Curriculum website]:
*English
*Mathematics
*Science
*Information and Communication Technology
*Design Technology
*History
*Geography
*Modern Foreign Language
*Art and Design
*Music
*Physical Education
*Religious Education
At the end of this stage, pupils aged 11 - in Year 6 - are tested as part of the national programme of
National Curriculum Tests, colloquially known as SATs. These tests cover English, Mathematics and Science. The tests are externally marked, with results for each school being published in
DfES performance tables.
*
Official National Curriculum website*
Primary Education at The Standards Site*
Department for Education and Skills Performance Tables
