News & Information

Key Stages & Their Assessments

	Age (Years)	Key Stage	Year	Assessment
Infant	5-6	1	1
	6-7		2	By Teacher in English, Maths & Science
Junior	7-8	2	3
	8-9		4
	9-10		5
	10-11		6	By Teacher and National Tests in English, Maths & Science
Lower Secondary	11-12	3	7	Ongoing by Teacher
	12-13		8	Ongoing by Teacher
	13-14		9	By teacher in English Maths Science & other foundation subjects
Upper Secondary	14-15	4	10	Some pupils take some GCSEs
	15-16		11	Most children take GCSEs and other national qualifications
	16-17		12	AS
	18-19		13	A2

Some primary and secondary schools use Optional SATs Tests.

How is your child doing?

You should be given your child’s levels every year from year 1 to 11.

Pupils should know what their target grades are. Most schools track pupil’s performances and these targets can change during the course. If you don’t know the targets contact the school.

National Curriculum Levels

End Of:-	Below Expected	Expected	Beyond Expected	Exceptional
KS1	1	2	3	4
KS2	3	4	5	6
KS3	4	5,6	7	8
KS4	4,5	6,7	8,9	10
Approx GCSE Grade	G,F,E	D,C	B,A	A*

Grades and their Importance

KS1 results can give early signs of educational problems.
KS2 results are often used by secondary schools for setting the new yr7 intake classes.
KS3 results are often used for setting yr10 GCSE classes.
KS4 results shows potential for taking A levels.

Special Needs

Each school has to conform to a Code of Practice concerning their provisions for special needs children.
Our advice is to contact the school’s SENCO. (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) immediately if you are concerned with your child’s progress and to contact –

DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Sudbury.CO10 6ZQ or on 0845 6022260 for SEN code of practice.
The Parent’s Charter – A Guide for Parents. A helpful booklet ‘The SpLD Resources Booklet about dyslexia, ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome, Autism etc. is available from G Hawley, SpLD Resources, The Old Bakery, Ashdon, Saffron Waldron, Essex CB10 2ET

Support

Poor School Attendance leaflet 0845 602260 ref PPY 181
Exclusion Help Line adviser 0207 7049822
Parentline confidential help 0808 8002222

Lower Secondary School

The core subjects (Maths, English and Science) are taken by all students up to yr11.

Other subjects are introduced in yr7 such as RE, PE, Geography, History, Modern Language(s), Music/Drama, Technology subjects etc.

By the end of year 9 pupils choose option subjects to be added to the core subjects to start the 2 year GCSE courses.

GCSE

Setting of classes is often based on yr9 attainment. There are 2 tiers of limited grade courses for each subject.

Higher – A* to D grades – 50% of pupils and Foundation – C to G grades – 50% of pupils.

Some subjects retain a coursework component, which have submission deadlines.

Although some courses are still linear (assessment by one exam at the end of the course) some also involve some form of module testing.
However most courses are modular taught and tested and are spread throughout yr10 and 11. Often modules can be retaken to improve the grade.

The type of course does depend on the subject, school and the examining board. Parents should be aware of the type of course and particularly the dates and topics of module tests. (If not contact the school)

AS, A2 Courses

Some schools set minimum GCSE results requirements to start these courses and some have no GCSE resit provisions!
Year 12 students can start with 3,4,5 (occasionally more) AS Subjects, having modular exams in January and in June.

Year 13 students often do not continue with all yr12 subjects but usually continue only with 3 or 4. Some schools do not permit AS resits in year 13.

A levels are awarded from the results of year12(AS) and year 13(A2) exams.