KS1 Tests Explained: What Happens in Year 2 Now?

A parent asked me last week whether her Year 2 daughter would sit SATs this year. She'd heard conflicting things at the school gate.

I didn't blame her for being confused. The rules changed in 2023-24, and most schools didn't exactly shout about it.

Here's what actually happens now.

KS1 Tests Are No Longer Statutory

Until 2023, all Year 2 pupils sat formal KS1 tests in reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS). The results fed into national data. Teachers used them to inform their final teacher assessment judgements.

From the 2023-24 academic year onwards, those tests became optional.

Schools can still use them if they want. But they don't have to. And many aren't.

What Do Schools Do Instead?

Teacher assessment still happens. That hasn't changed.

Your child's Year 2 teacher assesses them against the national curriculum standards for reading, writing, maths, and science. They use evidence from classwork, homework, and any tests the school chooses to run.

At the end of Year 2, the teacher assigns each child a grade:

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

These judgements are based on everything the teacher has seen across the year. Not just one test.

Do Schools Still Use the Old KS1 Test Papers?

Some do. Some don't.

The government still publishes KS1 test materials every year, even though they're not compulsory. Schools can order them for free and use them as part of their assessment process.

Some schools run the full KS1 tests in May, just like they always did. They find the structure helpful. It gives teachers a standardised snapshot alongside their ongoing assessments.

Other schools have ditched them entirely. They assess through classwork and their own internal tests instead.

Your child's school will decide. There's no right answer.

What About the Phonics Screening Check?

The phonics screening check is still mandatory.

All Year 1 pupils sit it in June. If your child doesn't meet the expected standard, they retake it in Year 2.

This hasn't changed. Phonics screening is separate from KS1 tests and it's still statutory.

Will You See the Results?

Yes. You'll receive a report at the end of Year 2 showing your child's teacher assessment results.

If your school uses the optional KS1 test papers, you might see those scores too. But the teacher assessment is what matters. That's what gets reported to the government (though the data is no longer published in league tables).

Why Did the Government Scrap Statutory KS1 Tests?

Officially, to reduce workload and give schools more flexibility.

In reality, KS1 tests were controversial. Six- and seven-year-olds sitting formal exams felt excessive to many parents and teachers. The tests were also expensive to administer and moderate.

Teacher assessment was always the primary measure anyway. The tests were supposed to support that judgement, not replace it. Scrapping the statutory requirement let schools focus on teaching rather than test prep.

Does This Mean Less Pressure on Year 2 Pupils?

In theory, yes. In practice, it depends on your school.

Some schools have genuinely relaxed their approach. No formal test week. No practice papers. Just ongoing assessment woven into normal lessons.

Other schools still run the full test schedule because it's what they're used to. The tests might not be compulsory, but the culture hasn't shifted.

If you're not sure what your school does, ask. Most schools explain their assessment policy at the Year 2 welcome meeting in September.

Should You Prepare Your Child?

Not really.

If your school uses the optional test papers, they'll do any necessary preparation in class. You don't need to drill your six-year-old with past papers at home.

The best thing you can do is keep reading with them every day. That's it. That's the magic intervention.

If your child struggles with phonics, practise little and often. Five minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday.

What If Your Child Doesn't Meet the Expected Standard?

Then the school will tell you, and they'll put support in place for Year 3.

Not meeting the expected standard in Year 2 isn't a catastrophe. Children develop at different rates. Some take longer to click with reading or maths. That's normal.

The teacher assessment helps identify where your child needs extra support. It's not a judgement. It's a starting point.

The Bottom Line

KS1 tests are no longer compulsory, but teacher assessment still happens. Your child will be assessed. You'll get a report. The school will use that information to plan for Year 3.

Whether your school runs formal tests or not, the outcome is the same. Your child's Year 2 teacher will tell you how they're doing and what comes next.

If you're juggling school emails, test dates, and phonics retakes alongside everything else, My School Agent keeps it all in one place. I built it because I kept losing track of what was happening when. Turns out I wasn't alone.