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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

Age School year Stage of curriculum Exams
4-5 Reception Early years Foundation Stage  
5-6 Year 1 Key stage 1  
6-7 Year 2 Key stage 1 KS1 Sats
7-8 Year 3 Key stage 2  
8-9 Year 4 Key stage 2  
9-10 Year 5 Key stage 2  
10-11 Year 6 Key stage 2 KS2 Sats
11+ (grammar school entry)
11-12 Year 7 Key stage 3  
12-13 Year 8 Key stage 3  
13-14 Year 9 Key stage 3  
14-15 Year 10 Key stage 4  
15-16 Year 11 Key stage 4 GCSEs
16-17 Year 12 Key stage 5  
17-18 Year 13 Key stage 5 A levels/IB

Wales

Age School year Stage of curriculum Exams
4-5 Reception Foundation Phase  
5-6 Year 1 Foundation Phase  
6-7 Year 2 Foundation Phase  
7-8 Year 3 Key stage 2  
8-9 Year 4 Key stage 2  
9-10 Year 5 Key stage 2  
10-11 Year 6 Key stage 2  
11-12 Year 7 Key stage 3  
12-13 Year 8 Key stage 3  
13-14 Year 9 Key stage 3  
14-15 Year 10 Key stage 4  
15-16 Year 11 Key stage 4 GCSEs
16-17 Year 12 Key stage 5  
17-18 Year 13 Key stage 5 A levels

N Ireland

Age School year Stage of curriculum Exams
4-5 Year 1 Foundation Phase  
5-6 Year 2 Foundation Phase  
6-7 Year 3 Key stage 1  
7-8 Year 4 Key stage 1  
8-9 Year 5 Key stage 2  
9-10 Year 6 Key stage 2  
10-11 Year 7 Key stage 2 Transfer test
11-12 Year 8 Key stage 3  
12-13 Year 9 Key stage 3  
13-14 Year 10 Key stage 3  
14-15 Year 11 Key stage 4  
15-16 Year 12 Key stage 4 GCSEs
16-17 Year 13 Key stage 5  
17-18 Year 14 Key stage 5 A levels

Scotland

Age School year Stage of curriculum Exams
4-5 P1 Early level  
5-6 P2 First level  
6-7 P3 First level  
7-8 P4 First level  
8-9 P5 Second level  
9-10 P6 Second level  
10-11 P7 Second level  
11-12 S1 Third/fourth level  
12-13 S2 Third/fourth level  
13-14 S3 Third/fourth level  
14-15 S4 Senior phase National 3/4/5
15-16 S5 Senior phase National 4/5/Higher
16-17 S6 Senior phase National 5/Higher/Advanced Higher

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