Year 6 pupils in England will soon be taking the key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests, which are often referred to as SATs.
The assessments are used to measure school performance and to make sure individual pupils are being supported in the best way possible as they move into secondary school.
When are SATs?
This year, SATs will take place over four days from 13 May to 16 May 2024.
The timetable is as follows:
| Date | Subject | Test papers |
| Monday 13 May | English grammar, punctuation and spelling | Paper 1: Questions Paper 2: Spelling |
| Tuesday 14 May | English reading | English reading |
| Wednesday 15 May | Mathematics | Paper 1: Arithmetic Paper 2: Reasoning |
| Thursday 16 May | Mathematics | Paper 3: Reasoning |
What are the tests on?
While pupils won’t be able to see what’s on the test beforehand, the assessments only include questions on things that children should already have been taught as part of the national curriculum.
You can find past papers on GOV.UK.
As usual, there won’t be a test for English writing or science. Instead, this will be reported as a teacher assessment judgement.
This is a judgement teachers will make based on your child’s work at the end of KS2.
Does my child need to revise for SATs?
Children shouldn’t be made to feel any unnecessary pressure when it comes to the KS2 assessments and teachers will make sure that all pupils in their class are prepared.
You should follow their general advice about supporting your child’s education throughout the year and ahead of the tests.
While it is statutory for schools to hold the assessments, headteachers make the final decision about whether a pupil participates in them.
Some pupils – for example those with special education needs or disabilities – may be assessed under different arrangements if these are more appropriate.
If you have concerns about your child participating in the KS2 tests, you should speak to your school in the first instance.
What if my child finds the SATs tests too difficult?
It’s important to remember that one of the purposes of the key stage 2 assessments is to identify each pupil's strengths and the areas where they may have fallen behind in their learning as they head into secondary school.
The results will help their new school determine in which areas your child needs the most support.
The tests are designed to be challenging to measure attainment, including stretching the most able children. It means some pupils will find them harder than others.
It takes three years to create appropriate tests. During the process, they’re rigorously trialled with year 6 pupils and reviewed by education and inclusion experts to make sure they’re the right difficulty level.
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for developing the tests, and Ministers don't have any influence on their content.
When will we find out the results of SATs?
Schools will receive test results on Tuesday 9 July 2024.
Before the end of the summer term, your child’s school will send you a report which will include test results and teacher assessment judgements.
This should provide you with a good sense of the standard at which your child is working in each subject.
The school will report your child’s test results as a scaled score for each subject. This is created from the number of marks your child scores in a particular test. A scaled score:
- below 100 means that your child may need more support to help them reach the expected standard;
- of 100 or more means that your child is working at, or above, the expected standard for the key stage.
If your child is working below the overall standard of the key stage, or they have special educational needs, reporting will be different, and you should speak to your child’s teacher for more information.
You can also find more information about results at the end of key stage 2 on GOV.UK.