National Curriculum Key Stages
National Curriculum Key Stages
| Key stage | Pupil's age | Year group (England & Wales) | Year group (Scotland) | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early years foundation stage | 3-5 | Nursery, Reception | Nursery, P1 | EYFS |
| Key stage 1 | 5-7 | Y1, Y2 | P2, P3 | KS1 |
| Key stage 2 | 7-11 | Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6 | P4, P5, P6, P7 | KS2 |
| Key stage 3 | 11-14 | Y7, Y8, Y9 | S1, S2, S3 | KS3 |
| Key stage 4 | 14-16 | Y10, Y11 | S3, S4, S5 | KS4 |
Educational Journey England
-
Key Stage 3 (KS3):
Comprising Years 7 to 9, KS3 caters to the 11-14 age group. -
Key Stage 4 (KS4):
This is for students aged 14-16, covering Years 10 and 11, where they typically take their GCSE examinations. -
Post-16:
This includes 'Sixth Form', where students aged 16-18 take AS and A2 levels, commonly referred to as A Levels.
Educational Journey Wales
The Foundation Phase is akin to EYFS in England, covering Nursery and Reception.
Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 follow a similar age and year structure as in England.
Post-16 education is also referred to as ‘Sixth Form’ with Year 12 and Year 13.
Educational Journey Scotland
The system is distinctively different, starting with the Early Level which is equivalent to Nursery in other UK regions.
First Level to Second Level covers a range similar to KS1 and KS2 in England but extends to S1, the first year of secondary education.
Third/Fourth Level typically corresponds to S1-S3, with Senior Phase (S4-S6) being the final stage where students take National Qualifications, including Highers and Advanced Highers.