355 The key stages.E+W
(1)The key stages in relation to a pupil are—
(a)the period beginning with his becoming of compulsory school age and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of seven (“the first key stage”),
(b)the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of eight and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of 11 (“the second key stage”),
(c)the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of 12 and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of 14 (“the third key stage”), and
(d)the period beginning at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class attain the age of 15 and ending with the expiry of the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class cease to be of compulsory school age (“the fourth key stage”).
(2)The Secretary of State may by order—
(a)amend subsection (1), or
(b)provide that, in relation to any subject specified in the order, subsection (1) shall have effect as if for the ages of seven and eight there mentioned there were substituted such other ages (less than 11 and 12 respectively) as may be specified in the order.
(3)The head teacher of a school may elect, in relation to a particular pupil and a particular subject, that subsection (1) shall have effect as if any reference to the school year in which the majority of pupils in that pupil’s class attain a particular age were a reference to the school year in which that pupil attains that age.
(4)If at any time, in the case of a pupil of compulsory school age, subsection (1) does not, apart from this subsection, apply to determine the period within which that time falls, that subsection shall have effect as if—
(a)in the case of paragraphs (a) to (c), any reference to the school year in which the majority of pupils in that pupil’s class attain a particular age were a reference to the school year in which that pupil attains that age, and
(b)in the case of paragraph (d), the period were a period beginning at the same time as the school year in which he attains the age of 15 and ending when he ceases to be of compulsory school age.
(5)In this section—
“class”, in relation to a particular pupil and a particular subject, means—
(a)the teaching group in which he is regularly taught that subject, or
(b)where there are two or more such groups, such one of them as may be designated by the head teacher of the school; F1. . .
F1. . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 355(5); definition of "school year" and the word immediately preceeding it repealed (14.6.1997) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(4), Sch.8; S.I. 1997/1468, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt.I