Statutory guidance

National curriculum in England: science programmes of study

The statutory programmes of study and attainment targets for science at key stages 1 to 4.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 11 September 2013
• Last updated: 6 May 2015
  Show all updates

  1. 6 May 2015

     Updated the section on light, in the year 3 programme of study, within the document and HTML information.

  2. 2 December 2014

     Added science programme of study for key stage 4.

  3. 11 September 2013

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

National curriculum in England: science programmes of study

HTML

National curriculum in England: science programmes of study - key stages 1 and 2

Ref: DFE-00182-2013

PDF, 245 KB, 34 pages

National curriculum in England: science programme of study - key stage 3

Ref: DFE-00185-2013

PDF, 161 KB, 13 pages

National curriculum in England: science programme of study - key stage 4

Ref: DFE-00677-2014

PDF, 275 KB, 18 pages

Details

These programmes of study are issued by law; you must follow them unless there’s a good reason not to.

These programmes of study apply to all schools maintained by the local authority in England. They came into force in September 2016 for pupils up to and including year 10. For pupils in year 11, they come into force from September 2017.

Schools are not required by law to teach the content indicated as being ‘non-statutory’.

Short films of teachers and subject experts talking about the national curriculum and how to use it are also available.