Key Stage 3 Assessment

Key Stage 3

The Department of Education and Formation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales sets general guidelines for the manner in which religious education is assessed in all Catholic schools in England and Wales. These guidelines are found in Levels of Attainment in Religious Education (2007). For the purpose of Catholic school inspection, attainment in religious education at Key Stage 3 is reported in levels.

New Interim Standards

The Levels of Attainment are the official assessment measure for Catholic schools. However, in light of changes to assessment in other subjects, the Bishops’ Department of Education and Formation has approved for use an interim standards document for those Heads of Religious Education who want to use it. These interim standards combine the existing levels with the assessment descriptors from the new specifications for religious studies at Key Stage 4. The new standards are interim because they are skill based and do not contain curriculum content. Once this content is specified the standards document will be completed.