Phonics Screening Check – Year 1

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is an important part of our early reading curriculum and is designed to make sure that children are building secure foundations in phonics. It is a short, simple assessment that all pupils across the country complete in the summer term. The check helps us ensure that every child has reached a good standard in phonic decoding by the age of six. During the screening, each child reads a list of 40 words—some real and some ‘non-words’—in a relaxed, one-to-one session with a teacher they know well. This familiar environment helps children feel comfortable and confident. The purpose of the check is not to label children, but to identify anyone who may benefit from extra support with early reading skills. Any pupil who does not meet the expected standard receives targeted additional teaching throughout Year 2 and completes the check again the following summer. At Wheatcroft, we view the phonics screening as an opportunity to celebrate progress and ensure no child is left behind in their journey towards becoming a fluent reader.

Standard Assessment Tests (SATs)

Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) help schools and families understand how well children are learning and progressing in relation to national expectations. They provide a snapshot of pupils’ attainment in key areas of the curriculum and sit alongside teacher assessments, classroom work and ongoing monitoring. SATs assessments take place at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, although only the Key Stage 2 tests remain statutory. These assessments allow teachers to track progress from Early Years to Year 6, making sure that every child receives the support and challenge they need. At Wheatcroft, we approach SATs calmly and positively, ensuring that children feel prepared, supported and confident. We firmly believe that pupils achieve their best when they feel safe, valued and encouraged, and our approach reflects this throughout the assessment process.

Key Stage 2 (Year 6) SATs

In Year 6, pupils take part in more formal SATs during a national assessment week in May. These tests are set by the Department for Education and must be completed on the exact days outlined in the statutory timetable, which means it is extremely important that all children attend school that week. The SATs are designed to give a clear picture of pupils’ strengths and next steps before they move on to secondary school. We prepare pupils carefully and sensitively, ensuring that they understand the purpose of the tests and feel confident without feeling pressured. Further practical details, including the test timetable, breakfast clubs, and arrangements for test days, are shared with families closer to the time to support a smooth and reassuring experience for pupils.

Reading Assessment

The Key Stage 2 Reading SAT assesses children’s ability to understand and respond to a range of texts. Pupils are given a reading booklet containing three passages of different styles and genres, followed by a series of questions in a separate answer booklet. They have one hour to complete the test. This assessment evaluates a range of skills, including vocabulary knowledge, retrieval, inference, explanation and comparison. At Wheatcroft, pupils regularly practise these skills throughout the year through high-quality whole-class reading sessions, rich book-based learning and exposure to a broad, diverse reading curriculum.

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS)

The GPS assessment helps determine how well pupils can use and apply key writing conventions. It consists of a 45-minute grammar and punctuation paper and a short spelling test, where children hear 20 words read aloud and write them into an answer booklet. While the test is formal, pupils at Wheatcroft are well-prepared through daily writing opportunities, explicit spelling teaching and ongoing feedback that helps them secure strong foundational skills. The assessment provides useful information for teachers as pupils prepare for secondary school, ensuring that writing skills are accurate and well-developed.

Mathematics

The Key Stage 2 Maths SATs include three papers: one arithmetic test and two reasoning papers. The arithmetic paper focuses on fluency with number and calculation and lasts 30 minutes. The reasoning papers last 40 minutes each and assess children’s ability to apply their maths knowledge to problems, puzzles and explanations. Teachers may read questions aloud, but all answers must be the child’s own. Pupils have access to a ruler in all papers and may use a protractor and mirror in the reasoning tests. Throughout the year, children learn to reason mathematically, explain their thinking and apply strategies—a core focus of maths teaching at Wheatcroft.

Writing Assessment

Unlike other subjects, writing is assessed through teacher's own judgement rather than a one-off test. Pupils demonstrate their skills across a wide range of independent writing completed throughout the year. Teachers consider how well children apply grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, structure and creativity. Judgements are moderated within school, with other local schools and, periodically, by the local authority to ensure accuracy and fairness. This ongoing approach means that pupils’ achievement reflects their true capabilities over time rather than performance in a single test.

Science Assessment

Science in Key Stage 2 is also assessed by teachers. Throughout the year, pupils engage in practical investigations, scientific enquiry and knowledge-rich lessons that allow teachers to build a clear picture of their understanding. This evidence forms the basis of the teacher assessment in science, which is submitted to the Department for Education at the end of Year 6.

How Results Are Reported

All Key Stage 2 test papers are kept sealed and securely stored until the moment the test begins. Papers are then opened in front of pupils to ensure transparency. After completion, the papers are collected and sent away for external marking. Parents receive test scores for Reading, GPS and Maths, alongside teacher assessments for Writing and Science. Results are presented as scaled scores, where 100 is the national-expected standard. Scores below 100 show that pupils are working towards the expected level, scores of 100–114 indicate pupils are working at the expected standard, and scores of 115+ show pupils are working at greater depth. Teachers combine these results with ongoing classroom evidence to form final judgements. Results are shared with families in mid-July so that parents have a clear understanding of their child’s strengths and next steps before leaving Wheatcroft.

Multiplication Tables Check – Year 4

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is an online assessment completed by all Year 4 pupils in June. The purpose of the check is to ensure that children have rapid recall of all multiplication facts up to 12 × 12, a key skill that underpins success in upper Key Stage 2 maths and beyond. During the check, pupils answer 25 questions, each with a six-second time limit and a short pause between questions. The test is adaptive and includes more questions from trickier tables such as 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12. At Wheatcroft, pupils practise regularly in class and at home using Times Table Rock Stars, which mirrors the style and pace of the official test. Before the assessment, children take part in a number of practice sessions to ensure they are familiar with the format and confident about using the online system. The check is designed to be supportive and straightforward, giving teachers valuable information that helps shape future learning.