What are Key Stages?
The National Curriculum is the framework used by all maintained (state) schools. It is organised into blocks of years called Key Stages. There are four Key Stages as well as an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which covers education for pre-school children.
Read more at the Government's National Curriculum Website
What equipment should my child take to school?
There are no national requirements so we asked some teachers for their suggestions. We've identified products which match their recommendations for Primary School or Secondary School
Primary School (ages 5-11)
| Activity |
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2, ages 5-7) |
Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6, ages 7-11) |
| Writing & Colouring |
Teachers won't expect your child to take equipment to school, though for home:
- HP pencils and pencil grips (WHSmith Pencils, Staedtler pencils, Lamy Beginner's pencil)
- Sharpeners
- Erasers
- Colouring Pencils
|
They will have been writing with pencils since KS1
- HB pencils and pencil grips (WHSmith Pencils, Staedtler pencils, Lamy Beginner's pencil)
- Sharpeners
- Erasers
They'll start using pens with easy grip and easy flow ink
- Berol Handwriting pen or Lamy Beginner's Pencils
They'll progress to fountain pens with easy grip
- Lamy Beginner's Fountain Pen
- Lamy Nexx Fountain Pen
Colouring
- Colouring pencils (WHSmith, Crayola)
- Colouring felt tip pens
- Coloured Markers WHSmith, Crayola
|
| Mathematics |
Teachers won't expect your child to take equipment to school, though for home:
- 30cm rule WHSmith Aluminium/Plastic ruler
|
- Shatterproof 30cm ruler, and if you like a 15cm ruler too
- Protractor
- Calculator - encouraged to use calculators but recognise that it is important they first learn to do written and mental calculation
- Compass (Year 5 and above)
|
| General |
- Back Packs
|
- Pencil case
- Highlighter pens
- Ringbinders
- Exercise book covers
- Safety scissors (rounded tip)
- Glue stick
|
Secondary School (ages 11-16)