Which year group should my child be in?
The English National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage, which caters to students aged 3 - 5. The students then move into ‘Key Stages’ (KS).
- KS1 and KS2 are referred to as Primary Education, while KS3 is the start of Secondary School.
- KS4, is the start of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (I/GCSE), Years 10 and 11.
- KS5 or Sixth Form, is when the students start their A-Levels (Years 12 and 13).
Your child must have turned the age to enter the appropriate year group before 30 September of each year.
Please note:
1.The MoE&HE Guidelines state that all students must complete a full academic school year before they can move to the next year group. If your child has not completed part of a school year, they may have to repeat the year, irrespective of their age.
2. Students cannot be more than two years older than the year group age they are applying to join.
3. If you are moving from a different curriculum to the English National Curriculum (ENC), please check the MOE Guidelines below as to the equivalency of your child's curriculum to the English National Curriculum, e.g. Scotland Prim. 2 = ENC Year 1, whereas US Grade 1 = ENC Year 2.
Further information on this can be found on the MoE&HE Guidelines, read more here.
YEAR GROUP FINDER - 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR
Please note this is a guide based on date of birth only. Your child may need to go into a different year group depending on the curriculum or education system they are currently studying. Schools in Qatar must adhere to the Ministry of Education equivalency chart which supercedes date of birth.
For the 2024-25 academic year, USI will be operating up to Year 11. However, please note that Year 11 is only open to students already at USI, moving up from Year 10.
| Age | Date of Birth Between | Year Group | Key Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 1 Sep 2020 – 30 Sep 2021 | FS1 | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| 4-5 | 1 Sep 2019 – 30 Sep 2020 | FS2 | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| 5-6 | 1 Sep 2018 – 30 Sep 2019 | Year 1 | Key Stage 1 |
| 6-7 | 1 Sep 2017 – 30 Sep 2018 | Year 2 | Key Stage 1 |
| 7-8 | 1 Sep 2016 – 30 Sep 2017 | Year 3 | Key Stage 2 |
| 8-9 | 1 Sep 2015 – 30 Sep 2016 | Year 4 | Key Stage 2 |
| 9-10 | 1 Sep 2014 – 30 Sep 2015 | Year 5 | Key Stage 2 |
| 10-11 | 1 Sep 2013 – 30 Sep 2014 | Year 6 | Key Stage 2 |
| 11-12 | 1 Sep 2012 – 30 Sep 2013 | Year 7 | Key Stage 3 |
| 12-13 | 1 Sep 2011 – 30 Sep 2012 | Year 8 | Key Stage 3 |
| 13-14 | 1 Sep 2010 – 30 Sep 2011 | Year 9 | Key Stage 3 |
| 14-15 | 1 Sep 2009 – 30 Sep 2010 | Year 10 | Key Stage 4 |
| 15-16 | 1 Sep 2008 – 30 Sep 2009 | Year 11 | Key Stage 4 |
| 16-17 | 1 Sep 2007 – 30 Sep 2008 | Year 12 | Key Stage 5 |
| 17-18 | 1 Sep 2006 – 30 Sep 2007 | Year 13 | Key Stage 5 |
YEAR GROUP FINDER - 2025-26 ACADEMIC YEAR
Please note this is a guide based on date of birth only. Your child may need to go into a different year group depending on the curriculum or education system they are currently studying. Schools in Qatar must adhere to the Ministry of Education equivalency chart which supercedes date of birth.
For the 2025-26 academic year, USI will be operating up to Year 12.
| Age | Date of Birth Between | Year Group | Key Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 1 Sep 2021 – 30 Sep 2022 | FS1 | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| 4-5 | 1 Sep 2020 – 30 Sep 2021 | FS2 | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| 5-6 | 1 Sep 2019 – 30 Sep 2020 | Year 1 | Key Stage 1 |
| 6-7 | 1 Sep 2018 – 30 Sep 2019 | Year 2 | Key Stage 1 |
| 7-8 | 1 Sep 2017 – 30 Sep 2018 | Year 3 | Key Stage 2 |
| 8-9 | 1 Sep 2016 – 30 Sep 2017 | Year 4 | Key Stage 2 |
| 9-10 | 1 Sep 2015 – 30 Sep 2016 | Year 5 | Key Stage 2 |
| 10-11 | 1 Sep 2014 – 30 Sep 2015 | Year 6 | Key Stage 2 |
| 11-12 | 1 Sep 2013 – 30 Sep 2014 | Year 7 | Key Stage 3 |
| 12-13 | 1 Sep 2012 – 30 Sep 2013 | Year 8 | Key Stage 3 |
| 13-14 | 1 Sep 2011 – 30 Sep 2012 | Year 9 | Key Stage 3 |
| 14-15 | 1 Sep 2010 – 30 Sep 2011 | Year 10 | Key Stage 4 |
| 15-16 | 1 Sep 2009 – 30 Sep 2010 | Year 11 | Key Stage 4 |
| 16-17 | 1 Sep 2008 – 30 Sep 2009 | Year 12 | Key Stage 5 |
| 17-18 | 1 Sep 2007 – 30 Sep 2008 | Year 13 | Key Stage |
Further Admissions Information
- The English National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage, which caters to students aged 3 - 5.The students then move into ‘Key Stages’ (KS).
- KS1 and 2 are referred to as Primary Education, while KS3 is the start of Secondary School.
- KS4, is the start of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (I/GCSE), Years 10 and 11.
- KS5 or Sixth Form, is when the students start their A-Levels. Years 12 and 13.
- The MoE&HE Guidelines state that all students must complete a full academic school year before they can move to the next year group. If your child has not completed part of a school year, they may have to repeat the year, irrespective of their age.
- Students cannot be more than two years older than the year group age they are applying to join*.
- If you are moving from a different curriculum to the English National Curriculum (ENC), please check the MoE Guidelines as to the equivalency of your child's curriculum to the ENC. For example, Scotland Prim. 2 = ENC Year 1, whereas US or IB Grade 1 = ENC Year 2.
Further information on this can be found on the MoE&HE Guidelines, read more here.
*Please note that any requests for children to enter a different year group to the one corresponding to their age will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
