The Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in English) Order 1989

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 4(2) of the Education Reform Act 1988 places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish the National Curriculum by specifying as appropriate attainment targets, programmes of study and assessment arrangements for each of the foundation subjects.

Section 4(4) allows for such an Order, instead of containing the provisions to be made, to refer to provisions in a Document published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and to direct that those provisions shall have effect according to the Order.

This Order accordingly refers to “English in the National Curriculum” and provides for the attainment targets and programmes of study set out in it to have effect for the first key stage of a pupil’s compulsory schooling (that is to say, 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 Document sets out three levels in respect of attainment targets to cover the full range of abilities and maturities of pupils in the first key stage.

The Order further provides that any examples printed in italics in the Document are for illustrative purposes only, and do not form part of the Order.