what is key stage 3

Key Stage 3 (KS3) is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. KS3 covers pupils during their first three years of secondary education, although in some cases, part or all of this stage may fall in a middle or high school. The national curriculum subjects that are compulsory for KS3 students are English, maths, science, history, geography, modern foreign languages, design and technology, art and design, music, physical education, citizenship, and computing. Schools must also provide relationships, sex and health education, and religious education. At the end of this stage, pupils aged 14 or almost age 14 – in Year 9 – are assessed as part of the national program of National Curriculum assessment. KS3 aims to help students become fluent in the fundamentals of maths, reason mathematically, and solve problems both within and beyond mathematics.