School curriculum and exams

At a glance curriculum guide

Our curriculum guide lets you know what stage of education your child will be at according to their age, as well as what exams they may be taking.

England

Wales

N Ireland

Scotland

National curriculum for 14 to 16 year olds

It's not only the type of qualification you need to think about; the subjects you opt to study at 14+ can have far reaching consequences on A level and beyond. Careers and university options may seem like distant dreams, but it's important you check out advanced course requirements now to ensure that your options will enable to you take the courses you want at A level and university.

National curriculum for 16 to 18 year olds

What you study post-16 is likely to shape a huge chunk of your future. If you are considering university study or apprenticeships at 18, make sure you scrutinise course requirements before choosing your advanced level study courses. It's important to think about the type of examination you opt for - A level, Highers, Pre-U, IB etc.

National curriculum for 4 to 14 year olds

All state schools in England and Wales must follow a national curriculum which is divided into different key stages. Key stages 1 to 3 cover school years 1 to 9 and ages 5 to 14.

Primary Schools

Primary school: SATS, what are they?

Sats (Standard Assessment Tests) measure children’s educational achievement in years 2 and 6, with the ultimate aim of holding schools to account for the attainment of their pupils and the progress they make.

Secondary Schools

Progress 8 and Attainment 8 what are they?

Progress 8 aims to capture the progress a pupil makes from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school. It is a type of value added measure. Attainment 8 measures the achievement of a pupil across 8 qualifications.

Secondary school: common entrance (CE)

Common entrance (usually shortened to CE) is the name of the examination taken for entrance into some senior independent schools at age 11 (usually girls) or 13 (boys and girls).The 11+ CE examination is used mostly by girls’ boarding schools it consists of papers in English, maths and science. The 13+ examination covers eight core subjects at a higher level.

Secondary school: Northern Ireland transfer test

Entrance to grammar schools in Northern Ireland is via an 11+ exam called the transfer test. There are two types – known as the AQE and the GL. These two separate tests have been in place since the state-run 11+ exam came to an end in 2008. The AQE’s test is called the Common Entrance Assessment (CEA) but is commonly referred to as the AQE. This is used mostly by the controlled (non-denominational) grammar schools. The PPTC’s test is called the GL and is mostly used by Catholic maintained grammar schools.

Secondary school: Scottish Nationals

Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) is the Scottish curriculum for ages 3-15. Exams are set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). They are National 1-5, Highers and Advanced Highers. The CFE was developed by the Scottish Government to deliver a much broader education with greater emphasis on independent learning. Schools have been given greater flexibility to design the curriculum for their Senior Phase pupils according to their area’s requirements. For example, some parts of the Highlands may focus on the Gaelic language or an Aberdeen school may have a focus on engineering.

Secondary school: understanding the 11+

The 11+ is the entrance exam procedure for getting your brightish little button into a fee-paying or state grammar school. Much of the country abolished the 11+ several decades ago for state schools, but a few local authorities, such as Bucks and Kent, retained a large number of grammar schools and run county-wide entrance tests. In some other areas, such as Barnet and Kingston, a few grammar schools exist in tandem with the comprehensive system found in most of the country. These grammar schools set their own entrance exams.

Sixth Form

Sixth form: EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)

An EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) is a sixth-form qualification that involves students choosing a topic, carrying out research, creating a report (or ‘product’ and report) and delivering a presentation.

Sixth form: Oxbridge entrance

For many A level students and their parents, Oxbridge is the sine qua non of a university education - a golden ticket to fame and fortune. But Oxbridge is certainly not for everyone, even some of the brightest, and certainly doesn’t guarantee riches, or even a job. Critics say that Oxford and Cambridge are too focused on academic ability.

Sixth form: subject selection, helping you choose

If you thought it was difficult choosing GCSE subjects, there is added pressure at A level, IB or their equivalent. Whittling down GCSE choices from eight or more subjects can be tricky. If your school only offers A level and you prefer the breadth of IB, depth of Pre U or vocational orientation of BTec qualifications and the like, you may need to consider changing schools at 16.

Sixth form: T Levels

T levels are new two-year courses that follow GCSEs and each one is equivalent to three A levels. They offer a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience in the workplace.

Further reading

Top ten tips for parents: revision

The Good Schools Guide's top ten tips for parents of children revising for exams. Exams are undoubtedly nerve-racking for children and their parents. Fraught mums and dads watch over their children during the holidays or 'study leave' and wonder to what degree they should be helping. So, with that in mind, here are our top ten tips on how to help children to revise effectively.

Understanding the British school system

State schools

Independent schools

Grammar schools