By understanding your child’s curriculum, what they are learning about in school and how they are graded. You will be in a better position to help support their progression. You might find it quite overwhelming to wrap your head around. But by breaking the curriculum into relevant age groups it will be easier to understand. Read on for some guidance from a private college in Berkshire.

Key Stages

In England, there is a national curriculum that all local-authority-maintained schools must teach to their students. At independent schools, there is more flexibility regarding the curriculum. Which allows them to cater more specifically to each child’s needs. The national curriculum essentially outlines the areas of study and attainment targets for the key stages. Key Stage 1 applies to children in Years 1 and 2. Then Key Stage 2 applies to students in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6. Key Stage 3 applies to children in Years 7, 8 and 9. Finally Key Stage 4 applies to children in Years 10 and 11. At the end of each summer term you should receive a report on your child’s progress for you to talk through.

Finally, Key Stage 5 is explored when students are 16-18 years old. At this age, most students choose to study A Levels as these are the fastest route into university. However, A Levels are not compulsory, and students can choose to do an apprenticeship instead if this is more inline with their future goals and personal interests.

Incorporate into leisure

It would be wise to do some research into each of the key stages as and when the time is right. Doing so will allow you to tailor your leisure activities to suit the curriculum. For example, if you know that your child is studying plant life and photosynthesis in Science, you could ask them to help you in the garden and plant some seeds. If you are planning a family holiday abroad and you know that your child is studying GCSE French, you might choose to plan a trip to France rather than Spain or Italy.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teachers for more information and guidance on the curriculum and what you can expect for each academic year. They will likely be able to give you an outline of the curriculum and suggest some learning resources to help.

Get further help from online professionals

Understanding your child’s curriculum is challenging enough when it comes to certain subjects where there may be gaps in knowledge.

There are plenty of online resources that can be helpful in providing additional support and information for those who may find it beneficial. For example, HSC Tutoring is considered a valuable resource for those students who need qualified guidance from tutors. 

The tutors available know exactly what they need to teach in order to give their students the best opportunity for success.