This document establishes the statutory framework for the assessment of English, Mathematics, and Science within the National Curriculum as mandated by the Education Reform Act 1988. The text serves as a formal legislative instrument issued by the British government to define the specific requirements for pupil assessment at various key stages. It provides the legal basis for teachers and local education authorities to implement standardized testing and reporting procedures across the state-funded school system.

This document is recognized as a foundational legislative text for historians and policy analysts studying the evolution of the British education system. Experts frequently note that the prose is highly technical and strictly limited to the legal mandates of the 1990 assessment cycle.