Key Stage 3 (commonly abbreviated as KS3) is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14. In Northern Ireland the term also refers to the first three years of secondary education.
The term is defined in the Education Act 2002 as "the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of twelve and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of fourteen" (i.e. a three-year period).
This Key Stage normally covers pupils during their first three years of secondary education, although in some cases part or all of this stage may fall in a middle or high school. Some middle and high schools have been piloting accelerated Key Stage 3, by teaching the same curriculum over only two years.
All pupils in Key Stage 3 must follow a programme of education in at least 15 areas:
English Mathematics Science Computing Design and Technology History Geography Modern Foreign Language Art and design Music Physical education Career education Welsh (in Wales only)
(The reference gives three additional areas: religious education, citizenship education and sex education.)
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