What are key stages?
What are key stages?
Key stages are the groups that have been set up to administer progressive, standardised assessments during a child’s education in England and Wales. Each key stage consists of a certain range of school years.
The assessments associated with each key stage show how a student is doing in the areas of study that have been defined as targets in the National Curriculum. Your child’s teacher will know what these targets are, and will make sure those topics have been covered in the classroom.
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How are the key stages grouped?
There’s more than one year in a key stage, and assessments are given in the final year of that key stage. They are grouped as follows:
- Early Years Foundation Stage – ages 3-5 (Nursery and Reception)
- Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1 and 2)
- Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)
In secondary school, the key stages are:
- Key Stage 3 – ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)
- Key Stage 4 – ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)
How will my child be assessed in their key stage?
In the final year of a key stage, assessments test what’s been taught over the previous years between the last key stage (if applicable) and the current one. Students work to reach the expected standard for each key stage test or the greater depth standard if they are working above this.
Visit our super SATs area to find out more about the key stage tests, and to help your child practise for them. It’s packed with links to practice papers for both KS1 SATs and KS2 SATs, revision planners and techniques, and instructions on how to administer a SATs test at home so your child will know exactly what to expect.
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