Progress in National Curriculum levels
The National Curriculum sets out a clear, full and statutory entitlement to learning for all pupils up to the age of 16. It determines the content of what will be taught and sets attainment targets for learning. It also determines how performance will be assessed and reported. The National Curriculum online
The key principles of the National Curriculum are set out below, and you can find links to further information at the bottom of this page.
National Curriculum levels
Progress in levels
Attainment targets
Assessing levels
Further information
The National Curriculum sets standards of attainment for pupils in each subject ranging from levels 1 to 8. (For GCSE the range is from A* to G and for GNVQ the range is pass, merit and distinction.) At the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to reach a certain level:
- most 6 to 7 year olds are expected to achieve level 2 (Key Stage 1);
- most 10 to 11 year olds are expected to achieve Level 4 (Key Stage 2);
- most 13 to 14 year olds are expected to achieve Levels 5 or 6 (Key Stage 3).
For Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, the National Curriculum is accompanied by a series of eight levels.
Attainment targets are broad headings that group learning. They sets out the 'knowledge, skills and understanding that pupils of different abilities and levels of maturity are expected to have by the end of each key stage'.
The attainment targets are composed of eight level descriptions of increasing difficulty, plus a description for exceptional performance above level 8. These relate to the National Curriculum levels. A pupil should characteristically demonstrate the type and range of performance described.
Level 2 mathematics
- Pupils count sets of objects reliably, and use mental recall of addition and subtraction facts of 10
- They begin to understand the place value of each digit in a number and use this to order numbers up to 100
- They choose the appropriate operation when solving addition and subtraction problems
- They use the knowledge that subtraction is the inverse of addition
- They use mental calculation strategies to solve number problems involving money and measures
- They recognise sequences of numbers, including odd and even numbers
The level descriptions provide the basis for making judgements about pupils' performance at the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 while at Key Stage 4, national qualifications are the main means of assessing attainment in National Curriculum subjects.
Teacher assessments – the attainment of pupils in each subject is checked as a normal part of teaching. Teachers will assess attainment in English, mathematics and science against the National Curriculum standards at the end of each key stage by deciding which level best describes a pupil's performance in each subject using their knowledge of the work the pupil has completed throughout the year.
Tests – national tests are taken by pupils at the end of each key stage. Optional tests are available at the end of each year. These tests show the performance of pupils on a particular day, giving a measure of how pupils are doing compared with national standards in these subjects.
Further information on the National Curriculum can be found at http://www.nc.uk.net/, including the programmes of study and non-statutory guidelines, attainment targets and further notes for each subject. Additionally www.ncaction.org.uk shows standards of pupils' work at different key stages relating to attainment targets at different levels.