Statutory assessment at primary school is about measuring school performance, holding schools to account for the work they do with their pupils and identifying where pupils require more support so that this can be provided.

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SATs, or national curriculum assessments, are assessments of primary pupils' progress and attainment.

What are the statutory requirements for assessment at the end of key stage 1?
End of Key Stage 1

• the end of Key Stage 1 teacher assessment in mathematics and reading is informed by externally set, internally marked tests. 

• the GPS test (optional – used to inform writing teacher assessment) will have two papers, one of which is a spelling task;

• the reading test has a lower-demand paper with a combined reading and answer booklet, and a higher-demand test with separate reading and answer booklets;

• the maths test will have two papers, an arithmetic paper and a paper on mathematical fluency, problem-solving and reasoning;

• no papers are strictly timed.

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What are the statutory requirements for assessment at the end of key stage 2?
End of Key Stage 2
Children sit externally set and marked tests in mathematics, reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling in the Summer Term of Year 6

• The GPS test will have two papers, one of short answer grammar and punctuation questions and one spelling test

• The reading test will have one booklet covering a balanced range of texts and an answer booklet

• The maths test will have one 30-minute arithmetic paper and two papers of 40 minutes each on mathematical fluency, problem-solving and reasoning. The results of the tests in reading, mathematics; and grammar, punctuation and spelling are reported to pupils and parents as scaled scores

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Are there any other assessments?

Children in Year 1 complete a phonics screening check.

Children in Year 4 complete a multiplication check.