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

Most popular Good Schools Guide articles

Special educational needs introduction

Some special needs are easy to spot, others are only determined once a child has experienced considerable difficulties, frustrations or social and emotional problems. Over the years, diagnosis of and provision for SEN have improved, but both can still be a minefield. Identifying different kinds of special educational needs Few children fit a condition perfectly – if they do, we tend to say they are a ‘classic’ case. Most will not be straightforward: perhaps a dyslexic with dyspraxia and a touch of ADD, or a child with ASD who also has Down’s syndrome. Just as special needs are hard to…
Finding a state grammar school

There are currently around 164 state funded grammar schools located in 36 English local authorities, with around 167,000 pupils between them. There are a further 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland, but none in Wales or Scotland. Almost half of these are considered 'selective authorities' (eg Kent and Buckinghamshire), where around one in five local children are selected for grammar school entry based on ability. The others are areas such as Barnet or Kingston, with only a few grammar schools. How to find a state grammar school Word of warning: not all selective grammar schools have 'grammar' in their…
The Good Schools Guide online subscription

Find the best school for your child. One month subscription - £0.49 per day Three month subscription - £0.41 per day Six month subscription - £0.33 per day One year subscription - £0.29 per day Register for instant access to: ☑ Search for more than 30,000 schools in our parent friendly interactive directory. ☑ Create and save lists of schools via My Schools. ☑ Use our comparison grid to get exam results overview of schools you are interested in. ☑ Find comprehensive advice on state and independent schools, tutors and special needs. ☑ Catchment maps for English state schools by…
Schools for children with performing arts talents

As proud parents, we all know our children are unique. They're smarter than anyone else's, funnier, certainly more attractive, better behaved and above all bursting with the kind of talent that would leave Daniel Radcliffe or Charlotte Church standing. And sometimes, just sometimes, parental pride is justified.
Uni in the USA... and beyond

The British guide to great universities from Harvard to Hong Kong. We tell you how to choose, how to apply, how to pay. Why study in the US? Ask the US-UK Fulbright Commission... Ask the US-UK Fulbright Commission who report that you're in good company: the US is the top destination for international students worldwide. In fact, over 11,000 British students chose the States for their studies last year. Read more Scholarships for International Students Here's where you click to receive our giant pdf on US university scholarships for international students, covering how to find financial aid and how... Read more Can I afford it? America might proclaim…

Subscribe for instant access to in-depth reviews:

☑ 30,000 Independent, state and special schools in our parent-friendly interactive directory
☑ Instant access to in-depth UK school reviews
☑ Honest, opinionated and fearless independent reviews of over 1,000 schools
☑ Independent tutor company reviews

Try before you buy - The Charter School Southwark

GSG Blog > In the news >

The Good Schools Guide newsletter

Educational insight in your inbox. Sign up for our popular newsletters.

Now the school and university years are over