• Key Stage 2 SATs • Writing Assessment

English writing is the only core subject at the end of Key Stage 2 that is judged by teachers rather than tested. This guide for Year 6 teachers and leaders summarises the 2027 statutory guidance: the standards, what counts as independent writing, spelling and handwriting evidence and how moderation works.

The Quick Answer

The Writing Standards

The framework contains three standards, each made up of “pupil can” statements:

• working towards the expected standard
• working at the expected standard
• working at greater depth within the expected standard

Pupils who have not completed the programme of study, or are not yet working towards the expected standard, are assessed using the pre-key stage 2 standards. Exemplification materials can help with judgements, but teachers who are confident do not need to use them.

A More Flexible Approach

Writing is assessed differently from other subjects because a degree of subjectivity is needed. A pupil’s writing should meet all the statements within the standard at which they are judged. However, teachers can use their discretion so that a “particular weakness” does not prevent an accurate judgement of overall attainment.

A particular weakness can relate to part or all of a statement and may relate to a learning difficulty, but it does not have to. Teachers must be confident the weakness is an exception and explain it during moderation. This approach applies to English writing only.

What Counts as Independent Writing

Judgements must only be based on writing produced independently. Writing is likely to be independent if it:

• emerges from a text, topic, visit or curriculum experience where pupils have discussed and rehearsed what to write
• lets pupils use their own ideas and gives them an element of choice
• has been edited by the pupil without teacher support, although this may follow self, peer or group evaluation
• is produced by pupils who sought out resources such as a dictionary or thesaurus without being prompted

Writing is not independent if it has been:

• modelled or heavily scaffolded
• copied or paraphrased, including over-reliance on a model text
• edited or rewritten because of direct intervention by a teacher or other adult
• edited or rewritten following feedback from AI tools
• produced with electronic aids that automatically correct spelling, punctuation or suggest text
• produced in full or in part using AI, which could lead to a maladministration investigation
• supported by detailed success criteria that tell pupils exactly what to include or where

Spelling and Handwriting Evidence

Spelling should be evident throughout a pupil’s writing, although spelling tests can add evidence. Phonetically plausible but incorrect spellings count as errors unless a statement says otherwise. The year 3 and 4 and year 5 and 6 word lists in the national curriculum are statutory. If pupils do not use these words in their writing, evidence from tests and exercises alone is enough.

Handwriting should also be evident throughout independent writing. Handwriting exercises can add evidence but are not enough on their own. Pupils can use computers day to day, but there should be enough handwritten examples to support the judgement.

Moderation in 2027

Each year, local authorities must externally moderate at least 25% of maintained schools and 25% of academies and participating independent schools. Every school must be moderated at least once every 4 years.

Schools that use writing schemes should make sure pupils still have enough opportunities to write independently and that teachers can show evidence of this.

National Writing Results

In 2026, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in writing and 13% reached greater depth. Greater depth has been unchanged since 2022 and was 20% in both 2018 and 2019. Writing has been the lowest of reading, writing and maths every year since 2022 and it is now the subject that most often stops pupils meeting the combined standard.

What Is Changing?

The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended a new writing framework with a greater focus on fluency and stronger peer moderation between schools. The government has accepted that the writing assessment will be improved, but changes will be timed alongside the new English curriculum. Current arrangements continue for now. For an overview of teacher assessment in writing and science, see what SATs teacher assessment means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pupils use a laptop for assessed writing?

Yes, but spell check, grammar check and predictive text must be turned off for the writing to count as independent. There should also be enough handwritten evidence.

Does AI feedback make writing non-independent?

Yes. Writing edited after AI feedback or produced using AI cannot be used. Teachers should tell moderators where AI feedback has been used so the work can be excluded.

How many pieces of writing are needed?

The guidance does not set a number. A single, comprehensive piece of writing may be enough to show some statements have been met.

When will we know if we are being moderated?

In 2027, local authorities start telling schools from Friday 14 May.

Related Guides

Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, KS2 teacher assessment guidance 2027 and Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of KS2; Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment 2025/26, Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report and government response.