Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. This
Key Stage normally covers pupils during their first three years of
secondary education, although in some cases part of all of this stage may fall in a
middle or high school.
The term is defined in the
Education Act 2002 as "the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of twelve and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of fourteen"
[Defined in section 82 of the Education Act 2002]The term is used to define the group of pupils who must follow the relevant programmes of study from the
National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in at least 15 areas
[Set out on the National Curriculum website]:
*English
*Mathematics
*Science
*Information and Communication Technology
*Design Technology
*History
*Geography
*Modern Foreign Language
*Art and Design
*Music
*Physical Education
*Citizenship
*Sex Education
*Careers Education
*Religious Education
At the end of this stage, pupils aged 14 - in Year 9 - are tested as part of the national programme of
National Curriculum Tests, colloquially known as SATs. These tests cover English, Mathematics, Science and ICT. The tests are externally marked, with results for each school being published in
DfES performance tables.
*
Official National Curriculum website*
Key Stage 3 at The Standards Site*
Department for Education and Skills Performance Tables
