National Curriculum Age & Years
The following table gives an overview of education from early years to further education.
| Education | Age | Year | Key Stage | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Education | 2 - 4 | Nursery | Early Years Foundation Stage | Teacher assessments |
| 4 - 5 | Reception | Assessment of pupils' starting points in language, communication, literacy and maths & Teacher assessments | ||
|
Primary Education |
5 - 6 | Year 1 | Key Stage 1 | Teacher assessments & Phonics Screening Check |
| 6 - 7 | Year 2 | National curriculum tests in English reading, mathematics and Teacher assessments | ||
| 7 - 8 | Year 3 |
Key Stage 2 |
Teacher assessments | |
| 8 - 9 | Year 4 | Teacher assessments & Multiplication tables check | ||
| 9 - 10 | Year 5 | Teacher assessments | ||
| 10 - 11 | Year 6 | National curriculum tests in English reading, mathematics and English grammar, punctuation and spelling & Teacher assessments | ||
|
Secondary Education |
11 - 12 | Year 7 |
Key Stage 3 |
Teacher assessments |
| 12 - 13 | Year 8 | Teacher assessments | ||
| 13 - 14 | Year 9 | Teacher assessments | ||
| 14 - 15 | Year 10 | Key Stage 4 | Teacher assessments (some pupils' take GCSEs) | |
| 15 - 16 | Year 11 | GCSE, BTEC Level 1, BTEC Level 2 or other vocational qualifications | ||
| Further Education | 16 - 17 | Year 12 | Key Stage 5 | AS exams, BTEC level 3 or other vocational qualifications |
| 17 - 18 | Year 13 | AS, A level exams, BTEC level 3 or other vocational qualifications |
School leaving age
Students can leave school at 16 but must then do one of the following until they turn 18:
- stay in full-time education - such as college
- start an apprenticeship or traineeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training