Year 5 and Year 6

Age: Usually between 9 and 11 years old

Stage of learning journey:  Upper Key Stage 2.

Curriculum:  National Curriculum

Milestones

Find out the detail of what your child will be learning in year 5 and year 6. 

At the end of Year 6, all children will sit SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in:

• Reading
• Maths
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar

Your child will take the tests during the first full teaching week of May each year (the week after Bank Holiday Monday).  The tests last less than four hours and are usually spread across four days.

Your school has some flexibility about how they organise pupils for the tests, so some schools may hold exam sessions in the hall, while many schools have children take the tests in their own classrooms.

In some cases, individuals or small groups of children who are entitled to additional support, such as a reader or prompt, will take the tests in a separate room; your child’s school should contact you if they think this may apply to your child.

Year 6 SATs are used to measure the school’s performance. Your child’s marks will be used in conjunction with teacher assessment to give a broader picture of their attainment.

The school will send you the results of your child’s tests and teacher assessments in July.

SATs are not qualifications and don’t affect your child’s future options in school. The results are used to ensure that schools are teaching their pupils the essential knowledge and skills in the subjects that are the early building blocks and to make sure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

How you can help

You should follow the general advice from your child's school about supporting your child’s learning throughout the year.  Their teacher will be able to answer any queries about the tests, or you can visit www.gov.uk/STA for more details.

Downloadable Booklet (PDF 689kb) from Rising Stars to help parents and carers know what to expect about SATS.

Advice to help your child keep their cool and do their best.

Useful Links

https://www.risingstars-uk.com/Subjects/Parents news, advice and free resources to help you keep abreast of what's going on in primary education, as well as the latest resources to help your child reach their full potential.

www.ncetm.org.uk/ teacher’s resources, free to register, but may also be some useful content here for parents around maths

www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/ Book Trust works to generate excitement about books and cultivate long-lasting positive attitudes towards reading. 

www.theschoolrun.com resources to help you support your child.