UK SATs Dates & Timetable 2026 & 2027
In 2026, statutory Key Stage 2 (KS2) Year 6 SATs week takes place from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026. In 2027, SATs week will run from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027. Test papers cover English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), English reading, and mathematics. Results are released to schools on Tuesday 7 July 2026.
Monday 11 May – Thursday 14 May 2026
Mandatory test week for approximately 600,000 Year 6 pupils across England. Tests are taken under strict exam conditions each morning.
Monday 10 May – Thursday 13 May 2027
Confirmed dates from the Standards and Testing Agency for the 2026/27 academic year.
Year 6 KS2 SATs 2026 Timetable
Statutory daily schedule of papers set by the Standards and Testing Agency.
English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS)
Tests grammatical concepts, syntax, punctuation terminology, and spelling of 20 statutory target words.
English Reading
Includes a reading booklet of 3 unrelated texts (1,500–2,300 words) with retrieval, inference, and vocabulary questions.
Mathematics (Arithmetic & Reasoning 1)
Paper 1 focuses on mathematical operations, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Paper 2 tests problem solving.
Mathematics (Reasoning 2)
Second mathematical reasoning paper covering geometry, measurement, statistics, and algebraic word problems.
Year 6 KS2 SATs 2027 Timetable (Confirmed)
Advance planning timetable published by the Department for Education for 2027.
| Date | Subject & Papers | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 10 May 2027 | English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS)Paper 1: Questions, Paper 2: Spelling | 45 mins + 20 mins | Confirmed DfE |
| Tuesday 11 May 2027 | English ReadingReading Comprehension | 60 mins | Confirmed DfE |
| Wednesday 12 May 2027 | Mathematics (Arithmetic & Reasoning 1)Paper 1: Arithmetic, Paper 2: Reasoning | 30 mins + 40 mins | Confirmed DfE |
| Thursday 13 May 2027 | Mathematics (Reasoning 2)Paper 3: Reasoning | 40 mins | Confirmed DfE |
Other Statutory Primary School Assessments
Phonics Screening, Multiplication Tables Check, and Reception Baseline assessments across primary years.
Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)
On-screen digital check consisting of 25 multiplication questions with 6 seconds allotted per question.
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
One-to-one reading assessment of 40 words (20 real words and 20 pseudo-words / non-words) to evaluate decoding skills.
Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)
Statutory 20-minute teacher-administered assessment of early mathematics, language, communication, and literacy.
Key Stage 1 (KS1) SATs
Following DfE reform, Year 2 SATs are no longer statutory. Schools administer past papers optionally to support teacher assessment.
How Are SATs Marked? Scaled Scores Explained
Pupils do not receive a simple percentage or letter grade for their KS2 SATs. Instead, raw test scores (total marks scored out of 110 in Maths, 50 in Reading, and 70 in GPS) are converted into a national scaled score ranging between 80 and 120.
Pupil has not met the expected government standard in this subject and may require targeted support in Year 7.
Pupil has achieved the benchmark national standard expected of children finishing primary education in England.
High achievement benchmark indicating advanced mastery and strong academic readiness for Key Stage 3.
Warning for Parents: Term-Time Absence During SATs Week
Under Department for Education statutory regulations, primary headteachers are instructed never to authorise term-time holiday leave during KS2 SATs week. If a pupil misses a SATs paper due to an unapproved family trip:
- The test paper cannot be rescheduled or retaken; the pupil receives a recorded absence code rather than a scaled score.
- Local authority penalty notices are issued automatically at £80 per parent per child (rising to £160 if unpaid within 21 days).
- Repeated absence within 3 years triggers a £160 automatic fine or magistrates court prosecution under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996.
Frequently Asked Questions About SATs
When is SATs week in 2026 and 2027 in the UK?
In 2026, Key Stage 2 (KS2) SATs week takes place from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026. In 2027, Year 6 SATs week runs from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027. All tests take place in the morning.
Can I take my child on holiday during SATs week?
No. Schools cannot authorise term-time holiday requests during SATs week. Unauthorised absence during KS2 test week triggers an immediate £80 local authority penalty notice (rising to £160 if unpaid within 21 days), and schools cannot reschedule test papers for holidays.
What is a passing score on the KS2 SATs?
SATs test marks are converted into a scaled score between 80 and 120. A scaled score of 100 represents the expected standard set by the Department for Education. A score of 110 or higher represents working at greater depth.
When are Year 6 SATs results released to schools and parents?
Primary schools receive test results and scaled scores via the Primary Assessment Gateway on Tuesday 7 July 2026 (and Tuesday 6 July 2027). Headteachers report individual pupil results to parents alongside the end-of-year school report in mid-July.
Do SATs results affect which secondary school my child goes to?
No. Secondary school places are allocated on National Offer Day (1 March) based on council admission criteria, months before SATs are sat. However, secondary schools frequently use KS2 SATs scaled scores for setting and streaming in Year 7.