A Beginners Guide to Education in the UK
This guide has been written as a parents’ beginners guide to the jargon and sometimes alien schemes that exist in our education system. Armed with this information, you should gain a better understanding of the terminology used by teachers at Parent’s Evenings and hopefully be able to ask the right questions.
This guide was written in 2007, but don’t take it as gospel, as things change with each new Government initiative.
The school system in England
The school system is divided into National Curriculum Stages, according to the age of your child. Year Groups are also linked to age.
Standard Assessment Tests (more commonly known as SATs) are carried out nationally in Year Groups 2 and 6.
Nursery schools cater for children up to 5 years old.
Primary schools usually teach from Reception to Year Group 6, whilst Secondary schools teach from Year Group 7–11.
Table of National Curriculum Stages and Year Groups
Age (Years) Stage School Year Group Tests
3-4 Foundation Stage
4-5 Reception
5-6 Key Stage 1 Year 1
6-7 Year 2 SATs
7-8 Key Stage 2 Year 3
8-9 Year 4
9-10 Year 5
10-11 Year 6 SATs
11-12 Key Stage 3 Year 7
12-13 Year 8
13-14 Year 9
14-15 Key Stage 4 Year 10
15-16 Year 11 GCSEs
The age range can vary across different types of schools.
If you want your child to stay at the same school from 5-11 years, then select a Primary school. Otherwise, you will need to consider a combination of an Infant/First school and a Junior/Middle school.
Table of Types of Schools
School Type Year Group Age (Years)
Infant Reception - 2 rising 5's - 7
First Reception - 4 rising 5's - 9
Junior 3 - 6 7 - 11
Primary Reception - 6 rising 5's - 11
Middle 5 - 8 9 - 13
Secondary 7 - 11 11 -16
The National Curriculum is a framework of study produced by the Government, to ensure that teaching standards are universally consistent. State schools are legally required to follow the National Curriculum when teaching all children between the ages of 5-16 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The National Curriculum outlines what teachers must teach at different 'Key Stages' for each subject.
These subjects are:
- Literacy - this covers 3 areas, namely, speaking & listening, reading and writing
- Numeracy
- Science
- Design Technology
- Information and Communication Technology(ICT)
- History
- Geography
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Religious Education
The National Curriculum does not include detailed lesson plans for teachers. They plan their own lessons, taking account of their pupils' needs. Schools have the flexibility to select their own teaching materials.
For detailed information on the National Curriculum see http://www.nc.uk.net/.
For typical lesson plans see http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ and http://www.qca.org.uk/.
The Foundation Stage applies to children aged 3-5 years. It covers the time they spend from the start of nursery or pre-school, to the end of reception class in primary school. Reception classes for 4-5 year olds begin to follow the National Curriculum.
In the final year of the Foundation Stage, each child has a statutory assessment called a Foundation Stage Profile.
The Profile assesses each of the following learning areas: -
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication, language and literacy
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
The Profile is then passed onto the child’s Year Group 1 teacher. It is used as a starting point from which progress can be assessed towards the end of Year Group 1.
The Government produces an information leaflet on the Foundation Stage for parents, contact DfES Publications on 0845 602 2260 for a copy (it is available in several languages).
If you are looking for listings of nurseries in your area, click on this link http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ or call ChildcareLink on 08000 96 02 96.
(Private nurseries are not obliged to complete a Foundation Profile).
Key Stage 1 applies to children aged 5-7 years. They are taught according to the National curriculum. In Year Group 2 from January-June, children sit Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in literacy and numeracy. These tests are based on the National Curriculum and are marked by the class teacher. Children do not pass or fail these tests, they are awarded a level of study between 1- 3 in literacy and numeracy. Children are given a level (1-3) for science which is based on teacher assessment instead of a SATs test.
For more detailed information on these tests see http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/foragegroup/5to7years/testsage7/
For home learning resources see www.bbc.co.uk/schools
Key Stage 2 applies to children aged 7-11 years. They are taught according to the National curriculum. During the month of May, 10-11 year olds (Year Group 6) sit Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in science, literacy and numeracy. These are based on the National Curriculum and are marked by external examiners. By the end of Key Stage 2, your child will usually be awarded a level of study between 2- 5.
For more detailed information on these tests see http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/foragegroup/7to11years/testsage11/
For home learning resources see www.bbc.co.uk/schools, http://www.primarygames.co.uk/
For e-learning Year Group 6 Science, History, Geography & RE resources see http://www.taecanet.com/ (but you will need a pupil login and password from your class teacher to gain access to this site).
Key Stage 3 applies to children aged 11-14 years. They are taught according to the National curriculum.
Levels of study (1-7) are also subdivided into A, B & C where A is the highest (e.g. level 3C, 3B, 3A, where 3A is the highest and 3C the lowest).
A rough guide to the meaning of A, B & C are
A – The pupil is confident, has a good understanding and can apply their skills independently.
B- The pupil has a reasonable grasp of the subject, but requires further reinforcement to improve their knowledge, understanding and independence.
C- The pupil has a basic understanding of the subject. The pupil needs to revise the subject to improve their knowledge, understanding and gain some independence.
For Year Groups 1-6 in Primary school, you would typically expect an average pupil to be awarded the following:
If a pupil is awarded a level 5 in Year Group 6 then they are doing very well.
You will probably notice that pupils move up more levels during Year Group 5 and 6. These movements will slow down again in Year Group 7 onwards and some levels may be reduced, as Secondary schools adjust some subject levels to a different Key Stage 3 format (consult your school for more detailed information).
Table of Levels of Study
Year Group Level of Study
1 1
2 2
3 3C - 3B
4 3B - 3A
5 3A - 4C
6 4C - 4B
Key Stage 4 applies to children aged 14-16 years. They are taught according to the National curriculum. At the end of Year Group 11, children aged 15-16 years sit their Key Stage 4 exams called GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and will be awarded level G-A*.
GCSEs cover a wide range of subjects and each student chooses several subjects to study. Coursework may count for part of the final mark, depending on the subject and syllabus.
Schools use different methods for predicting GCSE grades. Some use the Key Stage 3 SATs level results, but the prediction formula varies depending on the subject. However, a level 7 usually predicts an A grade, a level 5 typically predicts about a B or C grade. Some schools don’t trust these results and conduct their own Cognitive Abilities Tests (CAT). Check with your school for more detailed information.
Standard Assessment Tests in Key Stage 1 are used as a starting point to assess your child’s progress through to the end of Key Stage 2.
Standard Assessment Tests in Key Stage 2 (Year Group 6) are passed onto Secondary schools; they may be used to help teachers decide what classes to put pupils into for streaming purposes.
Standard Assessment Tests in Key Stage 3 were abolished by the Government on 14.10.08
Choosing a school can be simply based on the nearest school to where you live. Other factors can also influence your selection.
Personal recommendations
SATs results
Applying for a school place
Applying for a school place can vary depending on the local council procedures; there has been a move by some council’s towards centralising applications. Each school can also have its own individual criteria for accepting pupil applications. These are based on several factors such as the catchment area (i.e. how close you live to the school), religion, siblings already attending the school and any special need requirements your child may have. It is advisable to approach your local council or schools in your area for their admission forms and procedures more than a year before your child is due to start school.
For secondary schools, Year Group 5 pupils should be considering their choices at this point in time and attending secondary schools open evenings. These evenings typically consist of a speech by the Head and current pupils carry out guided tours around the school. Some schools advertise their open days in local newspapers. Most schools run their main open days during September. Some council’s have a Common Application Form (CAF) procedure which asks for three ranked school preferences and it needs to be completed in October (when your child is in Year Group 6). Hence, try not to leave your decision until Year 6, as you will only have a couple of weeks in which to make your decision.
