The National Curriculum is divided into four key stages:
· KS1 = years 1 and 2 (ages 5 – 7)
· KS2 = years 3, 4, 5, 6 (ages 7 – 11)
· KS3 = years 7, 8, 9 (ages 11 – 14)
· KS4 = years 10 and 11 (ages 14-16)

National Curriculum subjects at Key Stages 1 and 2 are: English, mathematics, science, ICT, PE, geography, history, art and design, design and technology and music. RE is an additional statutory area and there are non-statutory guidelines for Personal, Social and Health Education. At Key Stage 3, Modern Foreign Languages and Citizenship are additional subjects.

At Key Stage 4, new arrangements make the following will be compulsory:
English; mathematics; science; ICT; PE; citizenship; religious education; sex education; careers education and work-related learning. As a statutory requirement schools are required to provide access to a minimum of one course in each of the following areas: the arts, design and technology, the humanities and modern foreign languages.

For the 14-19 curriculum, QCA has developed a special site to provide information for students, teachers and parents.  The site contains case studies and examples of the way schools and colleges are developing this important stage of learning.

Cambridgeshire LA support for the National Curriculum is to be found on the Education Portal.