🎒 School year, England
Year 6
The KS2 SATs and the transition to secondary school
By Sophie Hart · Founder & Editor
What to expect
Year 6 is the final year of Key Stage 2 and of primary school — the only year in the whole Reception-to-Year-6 span with a formally timetabled, nationally reported set of tests, and also the year secondary school admissions for Year 7 are applied for and offered.
Statutory checks and assessments
The KS2 national curriculum tests (commonly called 'SATs') are statutory and typically sat over four days in May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling (2 papers), English reading, and mathematics (3 papers). Writing and science are not tested by exam — they're assessed by teacher judgement instead. Results are reported as a scaled score from 80 to 120, with 100 or above meaning your child met the expected standard; schools usually get results in mid-July, in time to share them before the end of term.
Home life & homework
Some increase in homework and revision-style practice around the spring term is common ahead of the May test window, though schools vary a lot in how much pressure they put on this — many deliberately keep it low-key.
Social & emotional
The dual weight of SATs and the looming move to secondary school can genuinely unsettle some children this year, even confident ones. Reassurance that SATs results don't determine secondary school placement (that's decided by the admissions process, run separately and earlier in the year) is often worth repeating.
What to focus on
Keep perspective at home about SATs week — a calm, low-drama attitude from parents tends to rub off, and results are one data point for secondary schools, not a verdict on your child. Secondary school applications are made during the autumn/winter of Year 6, well before the SATs tests themselves, so the two processes rarely collide in the way parents sometimes worry they will.
When to check in with the school
Speak to the teacher if your child is showing real anxiety about SATs or the move to secondary school — most schools have a settled, practised way of managing both and can reassure with specifics about how your child's school handles it.
Year 6: common questions
What should I expect in Year 6?
The KS2 SATs and the transition to secondary school. Year 6 is the final year of Key Stage 2 and of primary school — the only year in the whole Reception-to-Year-6 span with a formally timetabled, nationally reported set of tests, and also the year secondary school admissions for Year 7 are applied for and offered. This covers England's state school system — every child and school is different.
Are there any tests in Year 6?
The KS2 national curriculum tests (commonly called 'SATs') are statutory and typically sat over four days in May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling (2 papers), English reading, and mathematics (3 papers). Writing and science are not tested by exam — they're assessed by teacher judgement instead. Results are reported as a scaled score from 80 to 120, with 100 or above meaning your child met the expected standard; schools usually get results in mid-July, in time to share them before the end of term.
What should I focus on at home during Year 6?
Keep perspective at home about SATs week — a calm, low-drama attitude from parents tends to rub off, and results are one data point for secondary schools, not a verdict on your child. Secondary school applications are made during the autumn/winter of Year 6, well before the SATs tests themselves, so the two processes rarely collide in the way parents sometimes worry they will.
Sources & further reading
- School starting age — GOV.UK
- Primary assessments: future dates — GOV.UK / Standards and Testing Agency
This covers England's state school system only — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different systems. This is general information, not advice for your specific child; your child's school and teacher are the best source for anything specific to them. Reviewed July 2026.