The National Curriculum sets standards of achievement in each subject for pupils aged 5 to 14. For most subjects these standards range from levels 1 to 8. Pupils climb up the levels as they get older and learn more. The National Curriculum for music, art and PE does not use levels 1 to 8. Instead, there is a single description of the standard that most pupils can expect to reach at the end of a key stage for each area of learning.
All teachers check their pupils' progress in each subject as a normal part of their teaching.
The teacher decides which level best describes a pupil's performance in each area of learning in the subject. The teacher then uses these to work out an overall level in that subject. Pupils aged 11 and 14 are also tested in science. The tests give an independent measure of how pupils and schools are doing compared with the national standards in these subjects. At least once a year schools must give parents a written report on how their children are doing in all subjects.