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KS2 & KS3 Curriculum

The Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 curricula are designed to build a strong academic foundation in Mathematics, Science, and English, equipping students with essential analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. This well-rounded education prepares students for future academic success.

Key Stage 2 Mathematics

The Key Stage 2 Mathematics syllabus provides a structured approach to developing students’ mathematical skills and understanding. The curriculum focuses on core areas of mathematics, including number, geometry, measurement, and statistics, aimed at building a strong foundation for further study.

  • Number and Place Value Understanding and working with numbers, including place value, and operations.
  • Addition and Subtraction Techniques for performing and applying addition and subtraction in various contexts.
  • Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Working with fractions, decimals, and percentages, including conversion and calculation.
  • Multiplication and Division Multiplying and dividing numbers, including understanding and applying multiplication tables.
  • Measurement Understanding and using units of measurement, including length, weight, volume, and time.
  • Geometry & Statistics Properties of shapes, including 2D and 3D shapes, angles, and symmetry. Collecting, interpreting, and representing data using charts and graphs.
Assessment Structure

The Key Stage 2 Mathematics assessments are designed to evaluate students’ understanding of core mathematical concepts and their ability to apply these concepts to solve problems. The focus is on developing fluency in arithmetic, applying mathematical reasoning, and solving a variety of problems.  

Formative Assessments

In KS2 Mathematics, formative assessments include class exercises, homework, and quizzes, providing continuous feedback to support students' understanding and skill development.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments, like end-of-year tests and project evaluations, measure students' overall mastery of KS2 Mathematics, ensuring readiness for further mathematical challenges.

Key Stage 3 Mathematics

The Key Stage 3 Mathematics syllabus is designed to build on students’ foundational mathematical skills and introduce more advanced concepts. The curriculum focuses on developing students’ understanding and application of mathematics across a range of topics, including number, algebra, geometry, and statistics.

  • Number Number Operations: Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
    Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages: Operations and conversions.
    Ratios and Proportions: Solving problems involving ratios and proportions.
  • Algebra Expressions and Equations: Simplifying algebraic expressions and solving linear equations.
    Sequences: Understanding and working with number sequences.
    Graphing: Plotting and interpreting linear graphs.
  • Geometry Shapes and Properties: Understanding properties of 2D and 3D shapes, including angles and symmetry.
    Measurement: Working with perimeter, area, volume, and units of measurement.
    Transformations: Translation, rotation, reflection, and enlargement.
  • Statistics Data Handling: Collecting, representing, and interpreting data using charts and graphs.
    Probability: Basic probability concepts and calculations.
Assessment Structure

The Key Stage 3 Mathematics assessments aim to evaluate students’ understanding of core mathematical concepts, their ability to apply these concepts to solve problems, and their proficiency in using mathematical methods effectively. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for more advanced study in mathematics. 

Formative Assessments

In KS3 Mathematics, formative assessments include quizzes, classwork, and problem-solving tasks, helping teachers monitor student progress and understanding of key mathematical concepts.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments, like end-of-term exams and major projects, measure students' mastery of KS3 Mathematics, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their skills and knowledge.

Key Stage 2 Science

The Key Stage 2 Science syllabus is designed to develop students’ understanding of scientific concepts and their ability to apply scientific thinking. The curriculum covers core areas of science, including biology, chemistry, and physics, with an emphasis on hands-on investigation and experimentation.

  • Biology Living Things and Their Habitats: Classification of living organisms, habitats, and life cycles.
    Animals, Including Humans: Human body systems, nutrition, and health.
    Plants: Plant structure, growth, and reproduction.
  • Chemistry Materials: Properties of materials, changes of state, and mixtures.
    Everyday Materials: Uses and properties of different materials and their changes.
  • Physics Forces and Motion: Basic forces, motion, and simple machines.
    Light and Sound: Properties of light and sound, including reflection and absorption.
    Electricity: Basic concepts of electricity, including circuits and conductors.
  • Scientific Investigation Planning and Conducting Investigations: Formulating questions, conducting experiments, and recording observations.
    Data Analysis: Interpreting data and drawing conclusions from scientific investigations.
Assessment Structure

The Key Stage 2 Science assessments aim to evaluate students’ scientific knowledge, their understanding of key concepts, and their ability to apply scientific methods and reasoning. The focus is on building a solid foundation in science through exploration and inquiry.

Formative Assessments

In KS2 Science, formative assessments involve hands-on experiments, class discussions, and quizzes, offering ongoing insights into students' comprehension and scientific thinking.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments, such as end-of-unit tests and project work, evaluate students' cumulative knowledge and practical skills in KS2 Science, ensuring a solid foundation for future studies.

Key Stage 3 Science

The Key Stage 3 Science syllabus is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of scientific concepts and processes. The curriculum covers core areas of science, including biology, chemistry, and physics, with an emphasis on inquiry, experimentation, and practical application.

  • Biology Cells and Organisms: Structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and systems.
    Health and Disease: Human health, diseases, and the role of the immune system.
    Ecosystems: Interactions within ecosystems, food chains, and environmental factors.
  • Chemistry Chemical Reactions: Understanding different types of chemical reactions and their applications.
    Elements and Compounds: Properties of elements, the periodic table, and chemical bonding.
    The Properties of Materials: States of matter, changes of state, and physical and chemical properties.
  • Physics Forces and Motion: Basic principles of forces, motion, and Newton’s laws.
    Energy: Forms of energy, energy transfer, and conservation of energy.
    Waves and Light: Properties of waves, sound, and light, including reflection and refraction.
  • Scientific Investigation Experimental Skills: Designing and conducting experiments, recording and analysing data, and drawing conclusions.
    Practical Work: Applying scientific methods to practical scenarios and understanding laboratory techniques.
Assessment Structure

The Key Stage 3 Science assessments aim to evaluate students’ knowledge and understanding of core scientific principles, their ability to conduct experiments, and their capacity to apply scientific thinking to solve problems. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for further study in science at Key Stage 4.

Formative Assessments

In KS3 Science, formative assessments involve regular quizzes, lab reports, and classwork, allowing teachers to gauge students' understanding and progress in scientific concepts.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessments in KS3 Science include end-of-unit tests and practical exams, providing an overall evaluation of students' grasp of the curriculum and their scientific skills.

Key Stage 2 English

Key Stage 2 (KS2) in the UK curriculum covers school years 3 to 6, when children are aged 7 to 11. During these years, students build on the foundational skills acquired in Key Stage 1, with a focus on developing more advanced reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Here’s an overview of the key components and objectives of the KS2 English curriculum:

  • Reading Developing a Love for Reading:
    • Exposure to a wide range of genres including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and reference books.
    • Encouragement to read for pleasure and to read widely to develop a rich vocabulary and an appreciation for literature.
    Comprehension:
    • Understanding themes, characters, and plots.
    • Developing skills to retrieve, record, and present information from non-fiction texts.
    • Making inferences and predictions based on evidence from the text.
    • Summarising main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas.
    Word Reading:
    • Decoding unfamiliar words using phonics.
    • Recognizing common exception words.
    • Developing fluency and accuracy in reading aloud.
  • Writing Composition:
    • Writing for a range of purposes and audiences, including stories, reports, letters, and poems.
    • Planning, drafting, evaluating, and editing writing.
    • Using varied and rich vocabulary to enhance writing.
    • Organizing writing into coherent paragraphs.
    Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling:
    • Understanding and using a wide range of punctuation marks correctly (e.g., full stops, commas, apostrophes, question marks, exclamation marks).
    • Learning about different types of sentences (e.g., statements, questions, exclamations, commands).
    • Using conjunctions, adverbs, prepositions, and noun phrases to add detail and clarity to writing.
    • Spelling words with prefixes and suffixes, homophones, and commonly misspelled words.
    Handwriting:
    • Developing legible, joined handwriting.
    • Ensuring consistency in size, spacing, and slope of letters.
  • Speaking and Listening Spoken Language:
    • Participating in discussions, presentations, performances, and debates.
    • Using spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesizing, imagining, and exploring ideas.
    • Listening and responding appropriately to adults and peers.
    • Articulating and justifying answers, arguments, and opinions clearly.
  • Assessments Teacher Assessments:
    • Ongoing assessments through classwork, homework, and classroom activities.
    • Teachers assess students’ progress and provide feedback to help them improve.
    National Curriculum Tests (SATs):
    • At the end of Year 6, students take standardised tests in reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mathematics.
    • The results help gauge students' understanding and readiness for secondary education.
  • Resources and Support Reading Schemes:
    • Schools may use structured reading schemes to support and monitor reading progress.
    Writing Frameworks:
    • Frameworks and guidelines help students understand the structure and features of different types of writing.
    Interactive and Digital Tools:
    • Use of educational software, online resources, and interactive whiteboards to make learning more engaging.

The KS2 English curriculum aims to develop confident, articulate, and literate students who can communicate effectively and enjoy literature.

Key Stage 3 English

Key Stage 3 (KS3) in the UK curriculum covers school years 7 to 9, when students are aged 11 to 14. During these years, the English curriculum builds on the skills developed in Key Stage 2, with an increased focus on more complex texts, critical thinking, and advanced writing skills. Here’s an overview of the key components and objectives of the KS3 English curriculum:

  • Reading Developing a Love for Reading:
    • Continued exposure to a broad range of genres including classic and contemporary fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and literary heritage texts.
    • Encouraging independent reading to foster a lifelong love of literature.
    Comprehension and Analysis:
    • Understanding and interpreting themes, characters, and plots in more complex texts.
    • Developing skills to retrieve, infer, and deduce information.
    • Analyzing writers’ use of language, structure, and form to create meaning and effect.
    • Comparing texts and understanding the contexts in which they were written.
    Critical Reading:
    • Evaluating how authors use language, including figurative language, to create effects.
    • Critically assessing the validity and reliability of information and arguments in non-fiction texts.
    • Exploring how texts reflect the time and culture in which they were written.
  • Writing Composition:
    • Writing for a range of purposes and audiences, including imaginative and creative writing, formal essays, narratives, descriptions, and discursive essays.
    • Planning, drafting, revising, and editing writing to improve coherence, accuracy, and style.
    • Developing a personal writing style while adhering to formal conventions where appropriate.
    Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling:
    • Using a wide range of sentence structures and varied vocabulary to enhance writing.
    • Learning about different types of sentences (e.g., statements, questions, exclamations, commands).
    • Spelling words correctly, including those with complex patterns and irregularities.
    Writing for Impact:
    • Crafting writing to achieve specific effects, such as persuading, informing, or entertaining the reader.
    • Using rhetorical devices and varied sentence structures for emphasis and clarity.
  • Speaking and Listening Spoken Language:
    • Participating in discussions, debates, and presentations with confidence and clarity.
    • Using spoken language to explore and develop ideas, express opinions, and present arguments.
    • Listening attentively and responding thoughtfully to others.
    Formal Speaking:
    • Developing skills in formal speaking, including structuring presentations, using formal language, and engaging an audience.
    • Practising and delivering speeches and presentations on various topics.
  • Assessments Teacher Assessments:
    • Continuous assessments through classwork, homework, projects, and classroom participation.
    • Teachers provide regular feedback to help students improve and develop their skills.
    End-of-Key-Stage Assessments:
    • Schools may conduct end-of-year exams or assessments to evaluate students' progress and readiness for Key Stage 4.
  • Resources and Support Diverse Texts:
    • Access to a wide range of texts, including those from different cultures and historical periods.
    Writing Frameworks:
    • Guidelines and frameworks to help students structure their writing effectively.
    Interactive and Digital Tools:
    • Use of educational software, online resources, and interactive whiteboards to enhance learning and engagement.
    Support for All Learners:
    • Differentiated instruction and additional support for students who need it, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The KS3 English curriculum aims to develop students’ literacy skills, critical thinking, and appreciation of literature, preparing them for the challenges of Key Stage 4 and beyond.