Category:UK National Curriculum

A National Curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things in state schools. Some other types of school (e.g. academies and private schools in England) may not have to follow a National Curriculum.

A National Curriculum covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject at each Key Stage (National Curricula are commonly organised into blocks of years called ‘Key Stages’).

In each of the UK Home Nations at Key Stages 1 and 2, there are aspects of learning clearly related to Design and Technology and at Key Stage 3 there are Programmes of Study. At Key Stage 4, it is commonly one of a prescribed group of subjects from which schools must choose. There are no formal curriculum assessments for Design and Technology (i.e. SATs) up to Key Stage 3 but, during Key Stage 4, most pupils work towards a national qualification (e.g. GCSEs).