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6.0Who are the key stage 3 tests for?
All pupils on the register at a maintained school or academy and in their final year of key stage 3 in the school year 2007/8 must be registered with the NAA for the tests, even if they are working below level 4 in English and level 3 in mathematics and science and will not take the tests. All pupils working at level 4 and above in English and level 3 or above in mathematics and science must take the tests. Pupils registered for the tests will move on to the key stage 4 programmes of study in the school year 2008/9.
Most of the pupils taking the tests will be in year 9 and will reach the age of 14 by the end of the school year. This includes pupils with special educational needs who are going to start some aspects of the key stage 4 programmes of study without having completed all the key stage 3 programmes of study.
To enable pupils with special educational needs to access the tests, schools can:
- order modified versions of the tests, see section 8.3
- use a wide range of access arrangements, see section 12.
In small schools without year-group classes, pupils who are going to be 14 in the school year 2007/8 and are moving on to the key stage 4 programmes of study must take the tests.
Pupils in their final year of key stage 3 who attend a pupil referral unit or hospital school on a part-time basis but are still on a school’s roll must also take the tests.