Senior leaders acknowledged that historically there had been a lack of focus on Key Stage 3 (KS3) in their schools, with all attention being placed on Year 11 outcomes. They now recognize the importance of the early secondary education years, as what happens in KS3 significantly impacts future results. One headteacher changed his school's philosophy to prioritize KS3, believing it is the "bedrock" of later success and that getting Years 6 through 10 right means Year 11 will then be successful. The document discusses efforts to raise the profile of KS3, including starting a student voice project, better preparing students for exams, and standardizing assessments and homework across departments to mirror GCSEs and emphasize mastery of content at an earlier stage