Primary education in Wales facts for kids
Primary education in Wales is a lot like primary education in England. However, there are some key differences. For example, learning the Welsh language is a must, and many schools teach subjects using Welsh. Also, the "Foundation Phase" for children aged 3 to 7 makes education in Wales quite unique.
Stages of Learning
In Wales, children usually start school after their fifth birthday. But many begin primary school earlier than this. Some parents also choose to teach their children at home.
Under the older curriculum from 2008, a child's education from ages 3 to 11 was split into two main parts:
- Foundation Phase (ages 3–7): This replaced the earlier "Early Years" (ages 3–5) and "Key Stage 1" (ages 5–7).
- Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11).
With the newer curriculum, these "key stages" are gone. Instead, there are "progression steps." These steps guide what level students are expected to reach at different ages. During primary school, these steps happen when children are five, eight, and eleven years old.
What Kids Learn
The curriculum helps schools decide what children learn.
Under the 2008 curriculum, schools had to teach children in Key Stage 2 subjects like English, Welsh (or Welsh as a second language), maths, science, design and technology, ICT, history, geography, art and design, music, and physical education.
The Foundation Phase, for younger children, did not use traditional subjects. Instead, it had seven "areas of learning":
- Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity
- Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
- Mathematical Development
- Welsh Language Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
The new curriculum, which officially started in primary schools in 2022, gives schools more freedom. Learning is grouped into six different areas:
- Languages, Literacy and Communication
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Science and Technology
- Health and Well-being
- Humanities
- Expressive Arts
The only specific subjects that all schools must teach are the English and Welsh languages. They also must teach:
- Literacy, numeracy, and digital skills
- Religion, values and ethics
- Relationships
How Kids Are Assessed
In 2001, primary school "league tables" (which ranked schools based on results) were stopped in Wales. A study from Bristol University suggested this led to a drop in standards in many schools.
Standardized tests for children finishing Key Stage 1 and 2 were first used across England and Wales in 1989. However, these tests were stopped in Wales in 2002 (for Key Stage 1) and 2005 (for Key Stage 2). Instead, teachers assessed the children, with less outside checking. In 2013, standardized tests were brought back for older primary school children.
See also
- Education in Wales
- Home education in the United Kingdom
