What is the UK National Curriculum? A four-nation explainer
The UK doesn't have one National Curriculum, it has four. Each nation (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) has its own framework with different structures, vocabularies, and assessment regimes. This is the plain- English version of what each one is and how lesson plans cite them.
The four nations
England
DfE National Curriculum
Key Stages 1 to 5 (Years 1 to 13), with Reception covered separately under the Early Years Foundation Stage. Programmes of study + attainment targets per subject per Key Stage. GCSEs at end of KS4, A Levels at end of KS5.
Scotland
Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)
Experiences and outcomes (Es and Os) across four levels: early, first, second, third and fourth. Eight curriculum areas. National qualifications administered by SQA at senior phase.
Wales
Curriculum for Wales 2022
Six areas of learning and experience: Languages, Literacy and Communication; Mathematics and Numeracy; Science and Technology; Humanities; Health and Well-being; Expressive Arts. Progression steps replace year-by-year content lists.
Northern Ireland
NICCA programme
Areas of learning + key elements + cross-curricular skills. CCEA administers GCSEs and A Levels in Northern Ireland (also taken in some other UK contexts).
What lesson plans cite
England: programme of study + attainment target + Year. Scotland: experience and outcome code + level. Wales: area of learning + statement of what matters + progression step. Northern Ireland: area of learning + key element. For KS4 + KS5 (England, Wales) cite the exam board and specification.
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What is the UK National Curriculum?
The UK is a four-nation country and each nation has its own national curriculum. England follows the DfE National Curriculum, structured around Key Stages 1 to 5. Scotland follows the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) with experiences and outcomes. Wales follows the Curriculum for Wales 2022, structured around six areas of learning and experience. Northern Ireland uses the NICCA programme. Lesson plans must cite the right framework for the school's nation.
What are the Key Stages?
The DfE National Curriculum (England) is organised into Key Stages: KS1 (Years 1-2, ages 5-7), KS2 (Years 3-6, ages 7-11), KS3 (Years 7-9, ages 11-14), KS4 (Years 10-11, ages 14-16), KS5 (Years 12-13, ages 16-18). Each Key Stage has programmes of study and attainment targets. Reception (ages 4-5) is covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sits alongside the National Curriculum.
What about GCSEs and A Levels?
GCSEs are taken at the end of KS4 (Year 11). A Levels are taken at the end of KS5 (Year 13). Both are administered by exam boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel/Pearson, CCEA, WJEC, SQA in Scotland) with specifications that diverge between boards within the same subject. Lesson plans for KS4 and KS5 should cite the exam board and specification code your school is following.
How does the Curriculum for Wales 2022 differ from the English National Curriculum?
Wales has restructured around six areas of learning and experience (Languages, Literacy and Communication; Mathematics and Numeracy; Science and Technology; Humanities; Health and Well-being; Expressive Arts) rather than the English Key Stage + subject structure. There are no statutory year-by-year content lists; teachers design progression around statements of what matters and progression steps.
What's the difference between the four nations' curricula?
Structure is the biggest difference. England: Key Stages + programmes of study + attainment targets. Scotland (CfE): experiences and outcomes across four levels (early, first, second, third+fourth). Wales: six areas of learning and experience + progression steps + statements of what matters. Northern Ireland (NICCA): areas of learning + key elements. Vocabulary, assessment regimes, and the role of national exams all differ. A teacher moving between nations needs to learn the local framework.