How state schools are structured.
Primary Schools in England educate children from 5-11 years of age. However, there is a stage of pre- schooling that many children attend. This is in the form of a pre-school or nursery school in which many children are enrolled soon after their third birthday. In the Primary sector it is common to have separate Nursery (3-5 year olds), Infant (5-7 year olds) and Junior (8-11 year olds) schools.
Schools number each year after reception (rising fives). Years one and two (rising six and seven) form Key Stage One. This culminates in the first stage of SATs - Standard Assessment Tasks, also known as National Tests, are the tests at the end of each Key Stage which award students a level which indicates their ability compared with the national average. Years three, four, five and six form Key Stage Two, once again concluding in National Tests in mid-May for the rising 11 year olds.
Some areas still operate on three-tier system – Lower, Middle and Upper, which have varying ages of transfer. These schools are currently undergoing research and may be restructured in the near future.
Secondary schools provide education for 11 – 18 year olds. The post 16 age group may also be catered for in a sixth form college. Secondary schools start with year seven and Key Stage Three, ending at year nine and with (no surprise) more SATs. Key Stage Four now begins; students will now be working towards their GCSEs, taken at end year 11(rising 16 – in case you’ve lost count!). The sixth form (Key Stage 5) is optional and offers students the chance to A/S Level, A Level or many other vocational courses.
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