How does the school system in England work? Year groups, Key Stages and the duty to stay in education

Who does this apply to?

• This is general information. It does not assess anyone's personal situation. It applies only in England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems. It is based on the GOV.UK pages "National curriculum", "Types of school" and "Know when you can leave school" (October 2026).

School years and ages

According to the GOV.UK table:

• Reception (EYFS): ages 4-5. A Reception baseline assessment is made in the first six weeks and an EYFS profile between April and June.
• Key Stage 1 (KS1): ages 5-7, Years 1 and 2. Year 1 has a phonics screening check. Year 2 has optional maths and English tests.
• Key Stage 2 (KS2): ages 7-11, Years 3 to 6. Year 4 has a times tables check and Year 6 has national tests in English reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. These tests are often called "SATs" in groups; the GOV.UK page does not use that name and calls them national tests.
• Key Stage 3 (KS3): ages 11-14, Years 7 to 9. No national tests.
• Key Stage 4 (KS4): ages 14-16, Years 10 and 11. Most pupils take GCSEs or other national tests in Year 11; some take part of them in Year 10.

The right to a school place and the duty to stay in education

• GOV.UK says children aged 5 to 16 in England are entitled to a free place at a state school. State schools are funded by a local authority or directly by the government.
• A young person who will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays can leave school on the last Friday in June. Until they turn 18 they must do one of: stay in full-time education (such as at a college), start an apprenticeship, or work or volunteer for at least 20 hours a week while in part-time education or training.

Who must follow the national curriculum?

• GOV.UK says state primary and secondary schools use the national curriculum. Academies and private schools do not have to; academies must teach English, maths, science, relationships, sex and health education (RSE) and religious education (RE).

Comparing with classes in Türkiye

• This post does not match Turkish classes to Year groups one to one: we found no official equivalence table. Placement is usually settled with the school or local authority when you apply. Applications go by age; for example, the first school application is made in the year the child is 3 or has just turned 4.

Points to watch

• Official pages change. This post is a general summary.

What can you do?

• Read the Key Stage table on National curriculum.
• Look at the school types on Types of school.
• Read the 16-18 rule on Know when you can leave school.