When are Sats 2023? Year 6 and Year 2 timetable as Key Stage 2 exams week starts, and when results come out

Year 6 pupils in England will soon be taking the key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests, which are also known as SATs (Statutory Assessment Tests).

The assessments are used to measure academic performance, with the Government claiming they ensure individual pupils are supported “in the best way possible” as they move into secondary school.

However, they have been criticised in the past, with a 2020 poll revealing that 95 per cent of teachers canvassed expressing concern about the potentially negative impact of exams on young students’ mental health.

Despite this, a second study found that the tests have limited impact on pupils’ stress levels – and the Government maintains the tests are important in mapping school progress.

What are SATs?

SATs (Statutory Assessment Tests) are tests aimed at measuring pupils’ academic ability in years two and six, as well as holding schools accountable for pupils’ progress.

Secondary schools are made aware of incoming pupils’ scores, and many use the results as a rough guide for setting. Most secondary schools understand that SATs only measure limited subjects and skill sets, so perform their own test at the start of year seven.

When are SATs?

This year, SATs will take place over four days from 9 May to 12 May 2023. The timetable is as follows:

What are the SATs tests on?

According to the Government, the assessments only include questions on things that children should already have been taught as part of the national curriculum. Past papers can be found 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.

When will the results for SATs come out?

Schools will receive SATs results on Tuesday 11 July 2023.

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:

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.