• Key Stage 2 SATs • Teacher Assessment
Not every part of Year 6 assessment is a test. Writing and science are judged by teachers, based on pupils’ work across the year. This guide for Year 6 teachers and school leaders explains the statutory teacher assessment requirements for 2027: the standards, moderation, data submission and how judgements are reported to parents.
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The Quick Answer
- Teacher assessment is the teacher’s statutory judgement of each pupil’s work in writing and science at the end of Year 6.
- Writing is judged as working towards the expected standard, working at the expected standard or working at greater depth.
- Science is judged as working at the expected standard or has not met the expected standard.
- Local authorities check writing judgements in at least 25% of schools each year.
What Is KS2 Teacher Assessment?
At the end of Key Stage 2, teachers must make statutory judgements in English writing and science. These subjects have no SATs test. Instead, teachers look at each pupil’s work and decide which standard best describes what they can do.
Teachers use national frameworks made up of “pupil can” statements. Each statement describes something a pupil working at that standard should be able to do, such as describing settings, characters and atmosphere in their writing.
The Standards Teachers Use
| Subject | Possible judgements |
|---|---|
| Writing | Working towards the expected standard Working at the expected standard Working at greater depth within the expected standard |
| Science | Working at the expected standard Has not met the expected standard |
To be judged at a standard in writing, a pupil’s work should meet all the statements for that standard. However, teachers can use their professional judgement where a pupil has a “particular weakness” that would otherwise give an inaccurate picture of their overall writing, as long as they can justify it with evidence.
Pupils Working Below the Standard
Some pupils have not completed the Key Stage 2 curriculum or are working below the standard of the tests. They are assessed differently:
- Pre-key stage 2 standards for pupils who are engaged in subject-specific study, in reading, writing and maths
- The engagement model for pupils who are not yet engaged in subject-specific study
Schools must tell parents if their child is being assessed in one of these ways.
How Judgements Are Checked
Writing judgements can be checked by the local authority through external moderation. Each year, local authorities must moderate at least 25% of schools and every school must be moderated at least once every 4 years. In 2027, schools will be told from Friday 14 May if they are being moderated and visits take place between Monday 7 June and Tuesday 29 June.
During a visit, a trained moderator discusses a sample of pupils’ writing with the teacher to make sure judgements match the national standard.
How Teacher Assessment Is Reported
Schools must submit their teacher assessment judgements on the NCA Portal by Tuesday 29 June 2027. Parents must receive each pupil’s writing and science outcomes in their end of year report, alongside their test results, by the end of the summer term.
National Results in 2026
| Subject | Pupils meeting the standard |
|---|---|
| Writing (expected standard or above) | 73% |
| Writing (greater depth) | 13% |
| Science | 82% |
Writing has been the lowest of reading, writing and maths every year since 2022. Before the pandemic, 20% of pupils reached greater depth in writing in both 2018 and 2019.
Is Teacher Assessment Changing?
The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended an improved writing framework with a greater focus on writing fluency. The government has said the Standards and Testing Agency will improve the writing assessment at Key Stage 2. These changes will follow the new English curriculum, so the current arrangements will continue for now. Our guide to assessing English writing at Key Stage 2 covers independent writing, AI rules and moderation in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is writing a SATs test?
No. Writing is assessed by teachers based on pupils’ work across the year. Grammar, punctuation and spelling is tested separately.
What does greater depth mean?
It is the highest writing judgement. In 2026, 13% of pupils were assessed as working at greater depth.
When is the 2027 teacher assessment deadline?
Schools must submit KS2 teacher assessment data on the NCA Portal by Tuesday 29 June 2027.
Does teacher assessment count towards school results?
Yes. Writing judgements are part of the reading, writing and maths combined measure used in school performance data.
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Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, KS2 teacher assessment guidance 2027, Teacher assessment frameworks at the end of KS2 and Assessment results at the end of KS2: information for parents; Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment 2025/26 and Curriculum and Assessment Review: government response.
