Statutory Assessment - Information for Parents/Carers

SATs (National curriculum assessments)

SATs, or national curriculum assessments, are assessments of primary pupils’ progress and attainment. They are completed at the end of Key stage two (end of primary/ junior phase). 

The tests are quite formal and school-level results are normally published in national performance tables allowing for comparison with other schools. 

SATs cover core academic subjects – English, maths, and science.

Year 6 SATS Week May 2026

Phonics screening check

Children in year one, which is usually the second year of primary education, also take a phonics screen to check their ability to decode words. They complete the screen again in year two if they don’t reach the expected standard in year one.

Phonics Check - Information for Parents and Carers

Times table check in Year Four

Since the 2021/22 academic year, schools have administered an online multiplication tables check for children in year four (normally aged eight or nine). This tests recall of times tables up to 12. 

Multiplication Check - Information for Parents and Carers

A statutory baseline assessment in reception class.

Children in state-funded primary and infant schools now take a baseline assessment within the first six weeks of entering reception class. This focuses on maths, language, communication and literacy. The results will be used as the starting point to assess how much progress schools are making with their pupils. Results for individual children or schools are not published.