(This note is not part of the Order)
Section 4(2) of the Education Reform Act 1988 places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish the National Curriculum by specifying by Order appropriate attainment targets, programmes of study and assessment arrangements for each of the foundation subjects.
Section 4(4) allows for such an Order, instead of containing the provisions to be made, to refer to provisions in a Document published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and to direct that those provisions shall have effect according to the Order.
This Order accordingly refers to the document entitled “Geography in the National Curriculum (England)” and provides for the attainment targets and programmes of study set out in it to have effect for the four key stages of a pupil’s compulsory schooling. The document sets out 10 levels in respect of attainment targets to cover the full range of abilities and maturities of pupils of compulsory school age; the Order specifies part of each attainment target as the appropriate range of attainment levels for each key stage.
The Order further provides that any examples printed in italics in the document are for illustrative purposes only, and do not form part of the Order.