Year 6 SATs Information

What are SATs?

Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) are national assessments that all Year 6 pupils take in May. At Beaufort Primary, we work hard to ensure that the experience is calm, supportive and in line with our BRAVE values, helping every child feel confident, prepared and ready to do their best.

SATs are just one part of how we assess children’s learning. Throughout their time at school, pupils complete regular summative assessments and practise test-style tasks across a range of subjects. As a result, the format of SATs will feel familiar and nothing to worry about.

When will the SATs take place?

Key Stage 2 SATs take place in May, following the national timetable set by the Standards and Testing Agency. Once confirmed, the tests will follow this structure:

Monday

• SPaG Paper 1: Grammar and Punctuation – 45 minutes

• SPaG Paper 2: Spelling – 20 minutes

Tuesday

• Reading – 60 minutes

Wednesday

• Maths Paper 1: Arithmetic – 30 minutes

• Maths Paper 2: Reasoning – 40 minutes

Thursday

• Maths Paper 3: Reasoning – 40 minutes

What do the SATs assess?

Year 6 pupils complete six test papers, all taken under timed conditions:

• Reading

• Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (SPaG)

• Mathematics (Arithmetic and Reasoning)

Writing is not assessed through a test. Instead, it is teacher assessed across the year, drawing on a wide range of independent work completed in class.

How are SATs marked?

All SATs papers are externally marked. Results are reported as scaled scores, where a score of 100 represents the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2.

Teacher assessment also plays an important role, particularly in writing.

How can parents support their child?

We want all pupils to approach SATs with the confidence, resilience and ambition at the heart of our BRAVE curriculum. The most effective support is reassurance, routine and encouragement.

It is important to remember that SATs results are just one piece of information and that SATs results do not define a child’s future success.

You can support your child by:

• Talking positively about SATs and reassuring your child that effort matters most

• Reading regularly, discussing characters, vocabulary, events and ideas

• Playing simple games, such as:

  • Maths: cards, dominoes, Uno, Monopoly

  • Literacy: Hangman, Boggle, Scrabble

• Using practice papers only if your child is happy to do so — practice assessments already take place in school

• Choosing revision guides together if helpful (these are optional and should feel supportive, not stressful)

• Keeping routines normal, including clubs, sports and hobbies, to help children stay balanced and positive