The British curriculum, year by year
What children learn from Year 1 to Year 6, key stages, year groups and the UK primary tests.
10 guides
- 01Key stages explainedEYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 and KS5: the ages, year groups and tests in each, with the UAE names.
- 02UK year groups vs US gradesOne table for UK years, UAE and US grades, IB, Indian and Australian years, by age.
- 03Maths, Year 1 to Year 6What the national curriculum expects in maths each year, in plain English.
- 04English, Year 1 to Year 6Reading, writing, spelling, handwriting and grammar, year by year.
- 05Statutory spelling listsThe official Year 3 and 4 and Year 5 and 6 word lists, plus the Year 1 and 2 exception words.
- 06KS2 SATs explainedThe Year 6 tests, scaled scores from 80 to 120, and what they mean for families abroad.
- 07Year 4 multiplication tables check25 questions, 6 seconds each, no pass mark: how the MTC works.
- 08Year 1 phonics screening check40 words read aloud in June. The 2026 pass mark was 31.
- 09FS1, FS2 and the EYFSWhat Foundation Stage means in the UAE, and the 17 early learning goals.
- 10Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary CheckpointCambridge stages 1 to 9, Checkpoint scores from 0 to 50, and how it compares with the English curriculum.