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Subjects:
Key Stages:

Key Stage 2 overview

Curriculum aims

The word 'curriculum'. The curriculum is laid down by law, so all state schools must follow it.

The National Curriculum refers to the subjects your child will study at school. It has three broad aims to enable all young people to become:

  • successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
  • confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
  • responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society

It is made up of blocks of years, known as Key Stages:

  • Key Stage 1 developed for primary school children from ages 5 to 7 (Years 1 and 2)
  • Key Stage 2 developed for primary school children from ages 8 to 11 (Years 3 to 6)
  • Key Stage 3 developed for secondary school children from ages 11 to 14 (Years 7 to 9)
Compulsory Key Stages 2 subjects

Three core subjects:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Science

Foundation Subjects:

  • Design and technology
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • History
  • Geography
  • Art and design
  • Music
  • Physical education

Your child’s school may cover these subjects under different names, and may teach more than one subject together under the same name. This is left up to individual schools, as long as they are covering the National Curriculum.