Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 builds on the achievements of 11-year-olds at Key Stage 2
and the firm foundation which the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies are
designed to deliver. The Key Stage 3 National Strategy is central to
achieving wider objectives at secondary level, and this page is dedicated
to supporting teachers as they implement it in the classroom.
The Framework for teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9 and the Framework for teaching mathematics: Years 7, 8 and 9 are available to view, print and download.
Online tests for Key Stage 3 ICT are currently being piloted — see the separate article for further information.
For the first time, value-added performance tables were published for 14-year-olds (December 2003), providing a better reflection of school effectiveness than the threshold indicators on their own.
Since the Key Stage 3 National Strategy represents a fresh perspective on teaching and learning, TeacherNet has put together a guide to the range of sources of support, information and help available on the Internet for Key Stage 3, covering a range of topics, from Government guidelines to great lesson plans and projects.
See also TeacherNet's effective-teaching article on setting homework.
Children with autistic spectrum disorders newly arrived from primary into secondary school may have difficulty accessing the curriculum. For tips, see the guidance for SEN coordinators and teachers.
Click to go straight to searchable banks of lesson plans and reviews. Many of the Useful sites directory entries are now mapped by Key Stage: sites with specialist Key Stage 3 content include the Ordnance Survey's Mapzone, and the Ask Cedric trading standards website which is full of citizenship resources.
The BBCi Schools website also provides a broad range of resources for teachers and students at Key Stage 3.
Key Stage 3 National Strategy 2004-05
Existing Strategy training and materials are being revisited and expanded, with the aim of increasing pupils' rates of progress. The focus will be on how the core subject departments can enable many more pupils to progress two levels across the Key Stage. In English and mathematics, attention will also be paid to pupils who enter at Level 3 and find it more difficult to progress to Level 5. In science, the focus will be on pupils who achieve Level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2 but find it difficult to make further progress to Level 5 during Key Stage 3.
The publication of the Key Stage 3 National Strategy 2004-05 (DCSF 0122-2004 G) expands on these aims and shows how the strategy links with the principles of school improvement and the actions that school leaders should undertake to promote improvement. It also offers practical guidance for senior leaders on working on whole-school initiatives, working with subject leaders and teachers. You can order or download the Key Stage 3 National Strategy from the Standards Site. You can also access Strategy Spring Headlines 2005 which offer a brief summary of priorities and information to support headteachers and senior leaders
Last updated: 25 November 2008
