Key stages: what it means

The stages into which compulsory schooling in England is divided, from key stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) to key stage 4 (ages 14 to 16).

The national curriculum in England is organised into key stages:

Early years foundation stage: up to the end of reception (age 5).
Key stage 1: years 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 7).
Key stage 2: years 3 to 6 (ages 7 to 11), ending with national tests often called SATs.
Key stage 3: years 7 to 9 (ages 11 to 14).
Key stage 4: years 10 and 11 (ages 14 to 16), usually ending in GCSEs.

Education statistics are published by key stage, so a claim about "primary results" usually means key stage 2 and "secondary results" key stage 4.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland organise schooling differently, so key stage figures are not UK-wide.

Also searched as: key stage 2, KS2, KS4, key stages uk ages, SATs

Questions that use this term

Attainment 8: A measure of GCSE-level results in England, adding up a pupil's points across eight qualifications, with English and maths counted double.
Progress 8: A value-added measure for secondary schools in England, comparing pupils' GCSE-level results with those of pupils nationally who had similar results at age 11.
Academic year: The year used in education statistics: usually September to August for schools and August to July for universities.
Disadvantage gap: The difference in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and other pupils. In England it is published as the disadvantage gap index.