Key Stage 4

Key Stage 4 is the legal term for the last two years of compulsory schooling in maintained schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - normally known as Year 10 and Year 11 in England and Wales, and Year 11 and Year 12 in Northern Ireland, when pupils are aged between 14 and 16.

Legal Definition

The term is defined in the Education Act 2002 as "the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of fifteen and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class cease to be of compulsory school age" Defined in section 82 of the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2002/20032--k.htm#82 Education Act 2002] ]

England and Wales

Purpose

The term is used to define the group of pupils who must follow the relevant programmes of study from the National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in the following areas Set out on the [http://www.nc.uk.net/nc_resources/html/ks3and4.shtml National Curriculum website] ] :
*English
*Mathematics
*Science
*Information and Communication Technology (England only)
*Physical Education
*Citizenship
*Sex Education
*Careers Education
*Religious Education
*Work-related learning
*Welsh (Wales only)

In addition, there is a statutory duty on schools to provide an optional programme of education for pupils in this Key Stage in each of the following areas:
*The Arts
*Design and Technology
*The Humanities
*Modern Foreign Languages

At the end of this stage, pupils aged 16 - in Year 11 - are normally entered for a range of external examinations. Most frequently these are GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams, although a range of other qualifications is growing in popularity, including National Vocational Qualifications. These examinations are set by one of the Examination boards.Results of exams at this age are published as part of the Department for Education and Skills' Performance Tables.

Northern Ireland

Legal Definition

The term is defined in The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 as " the period beginning at the same time as the next school year after the end of key stage 3 and ending at the same time as he ceases to be of compulsory school age".Defined in paragraph 3 of the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2006/20061915.htm#3 Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006] ] Notably, the earlier Key Stages are defined as lasting for ten years in total from the start of compulsory education.

Purpose

The term is used to define the group of pupils who must follow the relevant programmes of study from the National Curriculum. All pupils in this Key Stage must follow a programme of education in the nine areas of learning in the curriculum, some of which include specific subject strands. Set out on the [http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/ Northern Ireland National Curriculum website] ] :

*Language and Literacy
*Mathematics and Numeracy
*Modern Languages
*The Arts
*Environment and Society
*Science and Technology
*Learning for Life and Work
**Employability
**Local and Global Citizenship
**Personal Development
*Physical Education
*Religious Education

This curriculum is newly-introduced in Year 11 and will be extended to Year 12 in September 2008.

ee also

*Key Stage
*Key Stage 1
*Key Stage 2
*Key Stage 3
*Key Stage 5
*GCSE
*National Vocational Qualification

References

External links

* [http://www.nc.uk.net/ Official National Curriculum website]
* [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/ Department for Education and Skills Performance Tables]