Key Stage 4 Ages 14 - 16

Pupils in Years 10 and 11 are usually between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. They are now in Key Stage 4 and at the end of this stage will normally sit national examinations, usually GCSEs. Your child will also be able to choose from a growing range of vocational qualifications.

In Key Stage 4, your child will study a mix of compulsory and optional subjects. The subjects they will have to do are:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Physical education (PE)
• Citizenship
• Religious education, careers education, work-related learning and sex education (these are compulsory, but not part of the National Curriculum)

Your child will also be able to study one subject from each of the four 'entitlement' areas:

• the arts
• design and technology
• humanities
• modern foreign languages

Around age 14, your child will be able to make choices for study from 14 to 16 (key stage 4). This stage of your child's education calls for more choices than at earlier stages:

• Your child has to make choices about subjects, and might end up studying a unique mix of subjects.
• There are choices to be made about styles of assessment: should your child choose an option with lots of coursework, or will they be better off with exams?
• At the same time as studying for exams, you and your child will be thinking about the next steps: should they go on to advanced level study, training or work?