he National Curriculum applies to pupils of compulsory school age in community and foundation schools, including community special schools and foundation special schools, and voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools. It is organised on the basis of four key stages.

Key stage 1: Ages 5-7 (Years 1-2)

Key stage 2: Ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)

Key stage 3: Ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)

Key stage 4: Ages 14-16 (Years 10-11).

KS2 At Cambridge Schools Sudan

Until the end of year 2010 Cambridge Schools will run only KS1 and KS2 up to Year 4 (ages 8-9) .

At key stages 1 and 2 the statutory subjects that all pupils must study are art and design, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, music, physical education and science. Religious education must also be provided at key stages 1 and 2.

The structure of the National Curriculum

For each subject and for each key stage, programmes of study set out what pupils should be taught, and attainment targets set out the expected standards of pupils' performance. It is for schools to choose how they organise their school curriculum to include the programmes of study.

Programmes of study

The programmes of study (as defined by the Education Act 1996, section 353b) set out what pupils should be taught in each subject at each key stage, and provide the basis for planning schemes of work. When planning, schools should also consider the four general teaching requirements (use of language, use of ICT and health and safety and inclusion) that apply across the programmes of study.

Planning

Teachers' planning for schemes of work should start from the programmes of study and the needs and abilities of their pupils. Level descriptions can help to determine the degree of challenge and progression for work across each year of a key stage.

Reporting

Teachers are required to report  to parents on pupils' progress. Although not designed to be used at the end of each year across the key stage, the level descriptions can be used as a basis to describe pupils' progress.

Target setting

The Government has established national targets for the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving level 4 in English and mathematics at the end of key stage 2. Schools are required to set targets for the proportions of their pupils reaching these targets. Optional tests in English and mathematics are available to assist schools in monitoring pupils' progress towards these targets.

For some aspects of statutory assessment in English and mathematics at the end of key stage 1, level 2 has been subdivided into 2a, 2b, 2c so that it is possible to differentiate between the attainment of different groups of pupils who achieve level 2.