The National Curriculum sets out what maintained schools in England must teach at each key stage. It was last revised in 2014 and covers 12 subjects from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 4.
Every subject is designed so all pupils:
Community, Foundation & Voluntary Schools
Must follow the full National Curriculum at every key stage.
Academies & Free Schools
Have flexibility to modify the curriculum but must still teach English, Maths, Science, and RE. Most use the National Curriculum as a baseline.
Independent (Private) Schools
Set their own curriculum entirely, though many align with National Curriculum standards for GCSE/A-Level preparation.
Compulsory at every key stage. Receive the most teaching time.
Compulsory at various stages. Breadth of education.
Religious Education (RE) is also compulsory at all key stages but is set locally, not by the National Curriculum. Sex and relationships education (RSE) is compulsory in all secondary and primary schools.
At KS4, only English, Maths, Science, Computing, PE, Citizenship, and RE are compulsory. Students choose additional GCSEs from option blocks. Schools must offer at least one subject from each "entitlement area": arts, design & technology, humanities, and a modern foreign language. The government encourages the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) combination.
Use the Subject Explorer below to dive into each subject — see exactly what children learn at every key stage, from specific skills in KS1 to GCSE-level content.
Explore every National Curriculum subject in detail — see what children learn at each key stage.