<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs to be updated . Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . (November 2013) </Td> </Tr> <P> The National Curriculum was introduced into England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary state schools following the Education Reform Act (1988). Notwithstanding its name, it does not apply to independent schools . Academies and free schools may also set their own curricula, though many choose to follow the National Curriculum . </P> <P> The purpose of the National Curriculum was to standardise the content taught across schools to enable assessment, which in turn enabled the compilation of league tables detailing the assessment statistics for each school . These league tables, together with the provision to parents of some degree of choice in assignment of the school for their child (also legislated in the same act) were intended to encourage a' free market' by allowing parents to choose schools based on their measured ability to teach the National Curriculum . </P> <P> Whilst only certain subjects were included at first, in subsequent years the curriculum grew to fill the entire teaching time of most state schools . </P>

When were school league tables introduced in england