The Education (National Curriculum) (Key Stage 3 Assessment Arrangements) (England) Order 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and re-enacts with modifications the Education (National Curriculum) (Key Stage 3 Assessment Arrangements) (England) Order 1999 (“the 1999 Order”) as amended by the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements) (Amendment) Order 2001 which is also revoked. It specifies the assessment arrangements for pupils who have completed the programme of study for the third key stage, as they apply to schools maintained by local education authorities (other than any established in a hospital) in England.

The main change from the 1999 Order is to extend the application of the provisions. The 1999 Order applied to pupils in the final year of the third key stage. By virtue of Article 1(2), this Order applies to pupils who have completed the programme of study for the third key stage. Where a head teacher judges a group of pupils, who have completed the Key Stage 3 programmes of study, to be ready to proceed to the programmes of study for Key Stage 4, those pupils may take the National Curriculum assessments early.