English primary schools and the National Curriculum

The National Curriculum is split into four key stages (KS) – five if you include years 12 and 13. The Department for Education (DfE) uses these key stages to inform schools what they should be teaching and what outcomes they should aim for before moving on to the next key stage.

Most children enter school in reception the autumn after they turn four. School attendance is not actually compulsory until the term after the child turns five which, for those born in the summer months, may mean starting off in year 1. Prior to that point, the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ (EYFS), which is not strictly speaking a ‘key stage’ but serves a similar purpose, covers what children will learn in reception class and, should they go to nursery, the last year of nursery/pre-school. The first two key stages fall under primary schools. KS1 covers years 1 and 2, while KS2 covers years 3-6 (this is sometimes split into lower KS2 for years 3 and 4, and upper KS2 for years 5 and 6).

The National Curriculum focuses on three core subjects – English, maths and science. 

In addition, there are eight foundation subjects – art and design, computing, design and technology, languages (from KS2), geography, history, music and PE.

Schools are also obliged under the National Curriculum to provide religious education and relationships education (some primary schools choose to teach sex education too, although it is not mandatory).

Year 1 phonics screening check

In June, your child will be asked to read 40 words out loud to a teacher, who assesses whether he or she needs extra help with reading and feeds back the results to you. This is repeated in year 2 if they didn’t meet the expected standard.

KS1 assessments (year 2)

These assessments take place in May of year 2 (age 6 or 7) and test children’s ability in maths and reading (plus an optional test in English grammar, punctuation, and spelling). The tests are informal, so they aren’t timed and they take place in a normal classroom situation. These assessments are now non-statutory, meaning schools choose whether to administer them. 

Multiplication tables check (year 4)

This is an online test taken by pupils in the June of year 4. It involves children answering 25 questions on times tables from 2 to 12. For every question, pupils have six seconds to answer, and in between questions there is a three-second rest. Questions about the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times table come up more often. The questions are generated randomly.

KS2 SATs (year 6)

These assessments take place in May of year 6 (age 10 or 11) and are more formal tests in English (grammar, punctuation, spelling and reading) and maths. 

SATs were designed to measure how schools, rather than pupils, are performing, though some secondary schools take the KS2 results into account when setting pupils.

At the end of each academic year, your school will provide a report which can be discussed with them.

You will also receive results of the phonics check, multiplication tables check and KS2 SATs – but you will not get the results of the KS1 assessments unless you request them.

During the primary years, most private schools follow either the national curriculum or something very similar. Many enhance this with greater subject choice, encouraging pupils to widen their interests in areas such as music or art. Most have smaller classes and specialist teachers. Some use the SATs testing, some don’t.

Private schools covering the junior years are known as pre-preps (age 3 to age 7 or 8) and preps (age 7 or 8 to age 11 or 13). As the name suggests, they prepare your child for their next school and advise on which ones are likely to be most suitable. So a significant part of the curriculum will be getting them ready for entrance exams, whether at age 7, 8, 11 or 13. 

The 11-plus entrance exam is the key part of the admissions process for academically selective senior schools, such as fee-paying independent schools or state grammar schools. Preparation for this exam is not covered under the National Curriculum.

The upshot is that many children in the state school system are tutored for it (even though the tests are designed to be tutor-proof). Private prep schools in grammar school areas may well help prepare pupils, with the exception of some preps that go up to 13 and some that are part of an all-through school (because they want your child to continue there).

The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that where possible, children in KS1 and KS2 have 60 minutes of daily physical activity, 30 minutes of which should take place within the school day. Schools get to choose which sports and physical activities they offer depending on things like space and equipment available. But all schools must provide swimming instruction in either KS1 or KS2.

For music, primary schools are expected to teach a minimum of one hour per week throughout KS1 and KS2. Instrumental tuition and the opportunity to join musical ensembles should also be made available.

While art and design form part of the National Curriculum, there is no set amount of teaching time allocated to the subject. Instead, it sets out what pupils should learn at each key stage. In KS1, children are encouraged to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination. In KS2, the focus shifts to developing techniques, including greater control and use of materials, alongside creativity, experimentation and an awareness of different forms of art, craft and design.

These subjects tend to receive more focus in private schools, where there is a greater likelihood (but no guarantee) of specialist teaching, specialist teaching spaces and more time devoted to each.