Key Stages
Compulsory national curriculum subjects are:
English
maths
science
history
geography
modern foreign languages
design and technology
art and design
music
physical education
citizenship
computing
Schools must provide religious education (RE) and sex education from key stage 3 but parents can ask for their children to be taken out of the whole lesson or part of it.
During key stage 4 most pupils work towards national qualifications - usually GCSEs.
The compulsory national curriculum subjects are the ‘core’ and ‘foundation’ subjects.
Core subjects are:
English
maths
science
Foundation subjects are:
computing
physical education
citizenship
Schools must also offer at least one subject from each of these areas:
arts
design and technology
humanities
modern foreign languages
They must also provide religious education (RE) and sex education at key stage 4.
English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
The EBacc is a way to measure how many pupils in a school choose to take a GCSE in these core subjects:
English language and literature
maths
the sciences
history or geography
a language
This is the term that refers to the optional, two years, final stage of secondary education undertaken by 16-18 year old students studying in maintained schools and colleges in England and Wales.