Assessment enables teachers to understand the progress each child is making and provides valuable information to support planning for further learning. It also enables schools to report progress to parents, set future targets, and evaluate their effectiveness. Assessment information also allows the government to monitor the overall performance of the education system. At key points during primary school, pupils complete statutory and non-statutory assessments set by the Department for Education (DfE). These include:

  • A Reception Baseline (beginning of Reception)

  • A Phonics Screening Check (end of Year 1)

  • End of Key Stage 1 Assessments (Year 2- KS1 SATs, non-statutory)

  • A Multiplication Tables Check (end of Year 4)

  • End of Key Stage 2 Assessments (Year 6- KS2 SATs)

At each of these assessment points, pupils will be supported through the process and parents informed of how best to support their child at home. The school recognises that assessments can sometimes cause anxiety for pupils. We take a supportive approach and ensure that children feel confident and well-prepared, without unnecessary pressure.

In addition to statutory assessments, pupils complete regular assessments in reading and mathematics throughout the academic year to monitor progress and inform teaching. These results are shared with parents during parents’ evenings, through termly reports, and in an end-of-year reports.

Pupils also complete regular low-stakes quizzes (e.g. multiple-choice) as part of a structured retrieval practice approach.

Key Stage 1 & 2 SATs Guidance and Results

What are SATs?

SATs are assessments used in primary schools to measure pupils’ progress in Year 6, as well as in Year 2 (now non-statutory), to gauge their educational progress. They are one of several measures used by the government to understand school performance. The setting and marking of SATs are carried out in UK schools by the Standards and Testing Agency.

KS1 SATs in Year 2 (non-statutory)

Although KS1 SATs are no longer statutory, we choose to use them to support our teacher assessment. In June, children will sit their KS1 SATs in:

  • English Reading

  • English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS)

  • Maths

They will also be assessed by their teacher in Science, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

What will be in the KS1 SATs papers for Year 2?

KS1 Reading:

  • Paper 1 consists of a variety of texts totalling 400 to 700 words with questions placed at intervals throughout.

  • Paper 2 consists of a reading booklet containing different passages. These will total 800 to 1100 words.

Each paper for the KS1 reading SATs is worth 50% of the available marks and typically take up to 30 minutes to complete. The texts in the tests cover a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

KS1 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling:

  • Paper 1 is a 20 word spelling test worth 20 marks that lasts for approximately 15 minutes.

  • Paper 2 is a punctuation, grammar and vocabulary test. It comes in two sections of around 10 minutes each, and the paper is worth 20 marks.

KS1 Maths:

  • Paper 1 is an arithmetic test that typically takes around 15 minutes. It will consist of 25 marks.

  • Paper 2 involves reasoning, problem solving and mathematical fluency. This paper has 35 marks available, will last for approximately 35 minutes and contains a variety of question types.

KS2 SATs in Year 6

In Year 6, SATs are a more formal process of testing and take place in May. Children will sit KS2 SATs in:

  • English Reading

  • English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS)

  • Maths

Throughout the year they will also be assessed by their teachers in Writing and Science. By using teacher assessment, schools and the government are able to judge a child’s performance in a subject over a longer period of time. This means that teachers are able to account for a child’s whole knowledge and ability in a subject, not just that which comes to the fore in a test environment.

What will be in the KS2 SATs papers for Year 6?

KS2 Reading:

  • One paper with questions that are based on 3 passages of text. Pupils get 1 hour to answer the questions on the paper and there are 50 marks available. The texts in the tests cover a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

KS2 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling:

  • Paper 1 is a punctuation and grammar test. The test lasts for 45 minutes and there are 50 marks available.

  • Paper 2 is a 20-word spelling test worth 20 marks that takes 15 minutes to complete.

KS2 Maths:

  • Paper 1 is an arithmetic paper that will last for 30 minutes. It will contain fixed response questions where children have to give the correct answers to calculations. There are 40 marks available.

  • Papers 2 and 3 will test pupils on their reasoning, problem solving and mathematical fluency skills. The papers are worth 35 marks each and will last for 40 minutes.

Results

You can view the school’s performance data on the Department for Education website via the Compare School Performance service here .