RBA
Reception baseline assessment
- When
- First six weeks of Reception
- Run by
- Schools, for the Department for Education
A short check of early maths, literacy, communication and language when children start Reception.
England · national curriculum guide
School in England: Reception to Year 13, key stages and free worksheets
Year groups and key stages with ages, the statutory checks and tests, and free worksheets for every year.
In England, children aged 3 to 5 are in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which includes Reception, the year before Year 1. School then runs in key stages: Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2), Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6), Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), when most pupils take GCSEs. Years 12 and 13 are often called sixth form.
Pupils in state schools follow the national curriculum, and there are a few statutory checks and tests along the way: a reception baseline assessment, the phonics screening check in Year 1, the multiplication tables check in Year 4 and the national curriculum tests (SATs) in Year 6.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own school systems; this page is about England.
At a glance
- Early years
- EYFS
- Ages 3–5, incl. Reception
- Primary
- KS1 + KS2
- Years 1–6
- Secondary
- KS3 + KS4
- Years 7–11, GCSEs
- Phonics check
- Year 1
- In June
England
Classes and ages
The typical age of a child at the start of each school year. Tap a class to open its free worksheets.
At 3, most children are in Nursery. That is part of Early years (EYFS).
Nursery worksheetsAt 4, most children are in Reception. That is part of Early years (EYFS).
Reception worksheetsAt 5, most children are in Year 1. That is part of Key Stage 1.
Year 1 worksheetsAt 6, most children are in Year 2. That is part of Key Stage 1.
Year 2 worksheetsAt 7, most children are in Year 3. That is part of Key Stage 2.
Year 3 worksheetsAt 8, most children are in Year 4. That is part of Key Stage 2.
Year 4 worksheetsAt 9, most children are in Year 5. That is part of Key Stage 2.
Year 5 worksheetsAt 10, most children are in Year 6. That is part of Key Stage 2.
Year 6 worksheetsAt 11, most children are in Year 7. That is part of Key Stage 3.
Year 7 worksheetsAt 12, most children are in Year 8. That is part of Key Stage 3.
Year 8 worksheetsAt 13, most children are in Year 9. That is part of Key Stage 3.
Year 9 worksheetsAt 14, most children are in Year 10. That is part of Key Stage 4 (GCSE).
Year 10 worksheetsAt 15, most children are in Year 11. That is part of Key Stage 4 (GCSE).
Year 11 worksheetsAt 16, most children are in Year 12. That is part of Sixth form (A level).
Year 12 worksheetsAt 17, most children are in Year 13. That is part of Sixth form (A level).
Year 13 worksheetsNational exams and assessments
The main exams children meet on the way through school.
Phonics screening check
- When
- June of Year 1
- Run by
- Schools (Standards and Testing Agency)
Children read 40 words aloud, some real and some made-up, to show they can decode with phonics.
MTC
Multiplication tables check
- When
- June of Year 4
- Run by
- Schools (Standards and Testing Agency)
An on-screen check of times tables up to 12 × 12.
KS2 SATs
Key stage 2 national curriculum tests
- When
- May of Year 6
- Run by
- Standards and Testing Agency
Tests in English reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Writing and science are teacher-assessed. Key stage 1 tests in Year 2 are now optional.
GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
- When
- Mostly at the end of Year 11
- Run by
- Exam boards (such as AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR)
Most pupils take GCSEs or other national qualifications at the end of Key Stage 4.
England
Free worksheets for every class
Printable, playable on screen and marked instantly. Each class page has fresh sheets for every subject.
Curriculum
The national curriculum
The national curriculum in England sets out the programmes of study for each key stage. Many of our sheets are tagged with England national curriculum statements, so you can find practice for a specific objective.
National Curriculum in England
See the standards we map our sheets to
Tips for this school system
- In Reception and Year 1, a few minutes of phonics every day (saying sounds, blending words, reading short sentences) is the best preparation for the phonics check.
- For the Year 4 times tables check, speed matters: short, fresh tables sheets every day work better than one long session.
- Before KS2 SATs, keep practice short and calm; reading together still helps more than extra worksheets.
- Generate a different version of the same sheet for each table, so pupils practise one objective with fresh questions.
- Use a sheet on the board for a five-minute starter, then print the answer key for self-marking.
- Pupils can play sheets on a tablet for instant feedback during guided group work.
Keep learning
Programmes, phonics and short explainers that work with any school system.
Learning programmes
Step-by-step paths in maths and reading, with stars and progress.
Phonics and early reading
Sounds, blending and decodable mini-books, one step at a time.
Learning Wiki
Short, clear explainers of school topics, with practice to match.
Check-ups
Quick checks, marked instantly, to see what your child knows.
Lesson plans
Ready-to-teach plans that wrap fresh practice sheets.
Parents' area
Guides by age, weekly packs and your child's progress.
Questions parents ask
What age is Year 1 in England?
Children in Year 1 are aged 5 to 6. They start Reception, the last year of the Early Years Foundation Stage, at 4 to 5.
Are KS1 SATs still compulsory?
No. Key stage 1 tests at the end of Year 2 are optional, at the school’s discretion. The Year 6 KS2 tests are still taken in May.
Which years are Key Stage 2?
Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, for children aged 7 to 11.
Are the worksheets free?
Yes. Every class page has free sheets you can print, play on screen or write on with a finger or stylus. Some actions need a free account, and a few items marked Premium are part of a paid plan. There are no ads and no trackers.
Other countries
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources (last reviewed October 2026).