Editing Comprehensive school (section)

=== Curriculum ===
All maintained schools in England are required to follow the [[National Curriculum for England|National Curriculum]], which is made up of twelve subjects.<ref name="teachernet">{{Cite web |year=2007 |title=National curriculum |url=http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/n/nationalcurriculum/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223204813/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/n/nationalcurriculum/ |archive-date=23 February 2008 |access-date=19 February 2008 |work=Teachernet |publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families}}</ref> Every state school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based and which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.<ref name="key stages">{{cite web |title=National curriculum in England: framework for key stages 1 to 4 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-framework-for-key-stages-1-to-4/the-national-curriculum-in-england-framework-for-key-stages-1-to-4 |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30x30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref> For each of the statutory curriculum subjects, the [[Secretary of State for Education]] is required to set out a Programme of Study which outlines the content and matters which must be taught in those subjects at the relevant Key Stages.<ref name="EAct2002">{{cite web |last=National Archives |date=1 April 2018 |title=Education Act 2002 Part 6 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/32/part/6 |access-date=14 October 2020 |publisher=H M Government}}   [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30x30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.</ref> Teachers should set high expectations for every pupil. They should plan stretching work for pupils whose attainment is significantly above the expected standard. Teachers should use appropriate assessment to set targets which are deliberately ambitious.<ref name="key stages" />

Under the [[National Curriculum for England|National Curriculum]], all pupils undergo [[National Curriculum assessments]] at the end of [[Key Stage 2]] in [[Year Six|Year 6]] in the core subjects of [[English studies|English]], [[mathematics]] and [[science]]. Individual teacher assessments are used for foundation subjects, such as art and design, geography, history, design and technology, and computing. Pupils take [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]] exams at [[Key Stage 4]] in [[Year Eleven|Year 11]], but may also choose to work towards the attainment of alternative qualifications, such as the National Vocational Qualifications and [[Business and Technology Education Council]]. Pupils take GCSEs examinations in the core English literature, English language, mathematics, science, and entitlement subjects from the arts, humanities, design and technology, and languages. The core subjects [[English studies|English]], [[Mathematics]] and [[Science]] are compulsory for all pupils aged 5 to 16. A range of other subjects, known as foundation subjects, are compulsory in each [[Key Stage]]:
* [[Art education|Art and design]]
* [[Citizenship education (subject)|Citizenship]]
* [[Design technology|Design and technology]]
* [[Geography]]
* [[History]]
* [[Educational technology|Computing]]
* [[Language education|Foreign languages]]
* [[Music education|Music]]
* [[Physical education]]

In addition to the compulsory subjects, pupils at [[Key Stage 4]] have a statutory entitlement to study at least one subject from the arts (comprising art and design, music, photography, dance, drama and media arts), design and technology (comprising design and technology, electronics, engineering, food preparation and nutrition), the humanities (comprising geography and history), and modern foreign languages.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Government Digital Service |title=The national curriculum: key stage 3 and 4 |url=https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum/key-stage-3-and-4 |access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> Optional subjects include computer science, business studies, economics, astronomy, classical civilisation, film studies, geology, psychology, sociology, ancient languages, and ancient history.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Department for Education]] has drawn up a list of preferred subjects known as the [[English Baccalaureate]] on the results in eight GCSEs including English, mathematics, the sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, computer science), history, geography, and an ancient or modern foreign language.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=GCSE subject content |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/gcse-subject-content |access-date=2021-09-21 |website=GOV.UK |date=November 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

All schools are required to make provision for a daily act of collective worship and must teach [[religious education]] to pupils at every key stage and [[Relationship and Sex Education|sex and relationships education]] to pupils in secondary education. Parents can withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Local councils are responsible for deciding the RE syllabus, but faith schools and academies can set their own.<ref name="teachernet" /> All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). Schools are also free to include other subjects or topics of their choice in planning and designing their own programme of education.