Primary Curriculum
The ICS follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Some of the terms used may be unfamiliar to those families used to other educational systems. The chart below shows some of the terms you may encounter.
Programmes of Study
For each National Curriculum subject, there is a programme of study. These programmes of study describe the subject knowledge, skills and understanding pupils are expected to develop during each Key Stage or Unit. Teachers use these to plan appropriate work for your child. The knowledge and skills are delivered in a range of different ways and are not particularly linked to text books.
The National Primary Strategy
The National Curriculum programmes of study are supported by materials produced for the National Primary Strategy. These provide depth and additional structure for teachers and a wealth of supportive resources.
National Curriculum Levels
The programmes of study also map out a scale of attainment within the subject. These “attainment targets” are split into levels. In the Primary School, children usually work within Levels 1-5.
Range of Attainment
Children develop at different rates but National Curriculum levels can give you an idea of how your child’s progress compares to what is typical for their age. For example, by the end of Key Stage 1, most children will have reached level 2. By the end of Key Stage 2, most children will be at level 4.
| Level 5 | ||
| Level 4 | ||
| Level 3 | ||
| Level 2 | ||
| Level 1 | ||
|
End of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) |
End of Key Stage 2 (Year 6) |
| Key |
Working at age related expectation |
Working above age related expectation |
Working towards age related expectation |
Teacher Assessments
Throughout the year, your child’s teacher will carry out regular checks on progress in each subject as a normal part of their teaching. At the end of each year, they carry out a formal “teacher assessment”, indicating which National Curriculum level best describes your child’s performance in each area of learning. At the end of the year, we will send you a report telling you the National Curriculum levels your child has reached as a result of our assessments.
End of Key Stage Tests
At the end of Year 2, the teacher’s assessment of your child’s progress will take account of their performance in English and maths, measured by tasks and tests that are administered informally. At the end of Year 6, your child will take national tests in English and maths.
The tests won’t give you a complete picture of how your child is doing at school – they provide a “snapshot”, showing how they performed in selected parts of a subject on a particular day. These tests are used to validate the ongoing teacher assessment and confirm National Curriculum levels.
Useful Links
Early Years Foundation Stage
National Curriculum
National Primary Strategy