F1Part I
Chapter I The Curriculum
Principal provisions
C13 Foundation subjects and key stages.
1
Subject to subsection (4) below, the core subjects are—
a
mathematics, English and science; and
b
in relation to schools in Wales which are Welsh-speaking schools, Welsh.
2
Subject to F2subsections (2A), (2B) and (4) below, the other foundation subjects are—
a
b
in relation to the third and fourth key stages, a modern foreign language specified in an order of the Secretary of State; and
c
in relation to schools in Wales which are not Welsh-speaking schools, Welsh.
F72A
In relation to schools in England—
a
a modern foreign language is not a foundation subject in relation to the fourth key stage before—
i
1st August 1996, in the case of pupils entering the first year of the key stage in 1996; and
ii
1st August 1997 in the case of all other pupils.
b
technology is a foundation subject in relation to pupils who entered the first year of the fourth key stage in 1993 but is otherwise not a foundation subject in relation to the fourth key stage before—
i
1st August 1996 in the case of pupils entering the first year of the key stage in 1996; and
ii
1st August 1997, in the case of all other pupils.
2B
In relation to schools in Wales—
a
a modern foreign language is not a foundation subject in relation to the fourth key stage;
b
technology is a foundation subject in relation to pupils who entered the first year of the fourth key stage in 1993 but is otherwise not a foundation subject in relation to the fourth key sage.
3
Subject to subsections (4) F8(5) and (5A) below, the key stages in relation to a pupil are as follows—
a
the period beginning with his becoming of compulsory school age and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of seven;
b
the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of eight and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of eleven;
c
the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of twelve and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of fourteen;
d
the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of fifteen and ending with the majority of pupils in his class ceasing to be of compulsory school age.
4
The Secretary of State may by order—
a
amend the foregoing provisions of this section; or
b
provide that, in relation to any subject specified in the order, subsection (3) above shall have effect as if for the ages of seven and eight there mentioned there were substituted such other ages, less than eleven and twelve respectively, as may be so specified.
5
The head teacher of a school may elect, in relation to a particular pupil and a particular subject, that subsection (3) above shall have effect as if any reference to the school year in which the majority of pupils in that pupil’s class attained a particular age were a reference to the school year in which that pupil attained that age.
F95A
If at any time, in the case of a pupil of compulsory school age, subsection (3) above does not, apart from this subsection, apply to determine the period within which that time falls, that subsection shall have effect as if—
a
in the case of paragraphs (a) to (c), any reference to the school year in which the majority of pupils in that pupil’s class attained a particular age were a reference to the school year in which that pupil attained that age, and
b
in the case of paragraph (d), the period were a period beginning at the same time as the school year in which he attained the age of fifteen and ending when he ceases to be of compulsory school age.
6
In this section—
“class ”, in relation to a particular pupil and a particular subject, means the teaching group in which he is regularly taught that subject or, where there are two or more such groups, such one of them as may be designated by the head teacher of the school;
“school ”, except in subsection (5) above and the above definition, includes part of a school. F10and
“school year ” means the period beginning with the first school term to begin after July and ending with the beginning of the next school year.
7
For the purposes of this section a school in Wales is a Welsh-speaking school if more than one half of the following subjects, namely—
a
religious education; and
b
the subjects other than English and Welsh which are foundation subjects in relation to pupils at the school;
are taught (wholly or partly) in Welsh.
Pt. I (ss. 1-119) repealed (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, ss. 582(2)(3), 583, Sch. 38 Pt.I, Sch. 39.