Attainment target

Each National Curriculum subject has one or more attainment target. The targets identify the knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of different abilities and maturities are expected to have by the end of each key stage. Attainment targets for each statutory subject include eight level descriptions of increasing difficulty.

National Curriculum levels

For Key Stages 1, 2, and 3, the National Curriculum is accompanied by a series of eight levels. Your child's school will send you a report telling you what National Curriculum levels your child has reached in both tests and assessments.

Teacher assessments

Teachers check your child's progress in each subject as a normal part of their teaching by looking at their work. Your child's teacher carries out a teacher assessment to decide which National Curriculum level best describes your child's performance in each area of learning in that subject.

SATs or key stage tests

These are the national tests your child must take at the end of each key stage, which your child takes at ages seven, 11 and 14. They show your child's performance in selected parts of a subject on a particular day. For example, at the end of Key Stage 2 pupils are tested in English, Maths and Science. These tests give an independent measure of how pupils and schools are doing compared with national standards in these subjects.

Understanding the National Curriculum Key Stages

Age	Stage	Year	Tests
3-4	Foundation
4-5		Reception
5-6	Key Stage 1	Year 1
6-7		Tests Year 2	National tests and tasks in English and Maths
7-8	Key Stage 2	Year 3
8-9		Year 4
9-10		Year 5
10-11		Year 6	National tests and tasks in English, Maths and science
11-12	Key Stage 3	Year 7
12-13		Year 8
13-14		Year 9	National tests and tasks in English, Maths and Science
14-15	Key Stage 4	Year 10	Some children take GCSE's
15-16	Year 11		Most children take GCSE's or other national qualifications

Source: http://www.direct.gov.uk