Every school has National Curriculum documents for each subject. Most subjects are divided into different areas. For example, English covers the three areas of speaking and listening, reading, and writing. The National Curriculum does not include detailed lesson plans for teachers. They plan their own lessons, taking account of their pupils' needs, according to the National Curriculum.
Schools also decide for themselves which text books and other teaching materials to use.
There are four 'Key Stages' during your child's school career. For each test or exam, the government has set different levels of attainment which are expected of children at each particular Key Stage. At the end of their secondary school education, when they are aged 15 or 16, they sit their Key Stage 4 exams - GCSEs. The questions are written by education experts. Once completed, the tests are not marked by the school, but are sent off to be marked by teachers elsewhere in the country, to ensure impartiality.