SATs Results 2026: What You Need To Know

SATs results 2026 will soon be the topic of primary school conversation again. At Third Space Learning, we aim to provide you with as much information and insight as possible about these results in a timely fashion.

For now, all we know is that the SATs results in 2026 will be released in July as usual. Last year’s SATs results came out on 8th July 2025. Therefore, we can assume, as the expected standard, similar timings for this year. There are also key dates for the Key Stage 2 2026 SATs tests. These are over a week for KS2, details will follow in this article.

Over the SATs 2026 season, we will follow all the developments. This blog will act as a live tracker of all things related to the KS2 SATs results 2026. As the optional Key Stage 1 SATs aren’t mandatory, we’ll focus predominantly on the statutory Key Stage 2 SATs tests from the Standards and Testing Agency and regularly update this blog with the results, SATs data, question types, and analysis throughout this academic year.

2026 KS2 SATs results

The Key Stage 2 SATs results for 2026 are expected to be released towards the end of the summer term, in July, but the exact date isn’t yet confirmed. 

Typically, headteachers receive pupils’ total number of marks, or raw scores, for each of the test papers, and a child’s scaled scores for the primary assessments in early July.

Schools usually release test results to parents/carers in the end-of-year school reports. This will inform them whether their child is working towards the expected standard, at the expected standard or greater depth.  

Here’s what we will cover on this page the day the Key Stage 2 national curriculum assessments results come out:

• KS2 2026 SATs results: the headlines
• English grammar, punctuation and spelling results 2026
• Teacher assessment judgements for writing
• Maths SATs results 2026
• Scaled score conversion tables for the KS2 SATs results
• How the 2026 SATs results compare to 2025
• What trends can we see from the 2026 SATs results?
• What have we learnt from the results of the SATs Arithmetic Test
• What have we learnt from the results of the SATs Reasoning Test
• What the national assessment results mean and what to do next

While this blog will touch on the English papers, as maths tutoring specialists, the main focus will be on the maths SATs scores, difficulty and nuance of the maths tests. 

KS2 SATs dates 2026

For KS2, SATs 2026 will take place in the second week of May: Monday 11th May 2026 to Thursday 14th May 2026. 

Here’s a breakdown of the key dates Year 6 pupils will sit each of the national curriculum tests: 

• Monday 11 May 2026: English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling: Paper 1: Grammar and Punctuation, 45 minutes 
• Monday 11 May 2026: English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling: Paper 2: Spelling, 20 minutes 
• Tuesday 12 May 2026: English Reading, 60 minutes 
• Wednesday 13 May 2026: Mathematics Paper 1: Arithmetic, 30 minutes
• Wednesday 13 May 2026: Mathematics Paper 2: Reasoning, 40 minutes 
• Thursday 14 May 2026: Mathematics Paper 3: Reasoning, 40 minutes 

There are no papers for English writing; pupils are assessed using teacher assessment judgments. Every year, a selection of schools is moderated on their English writing judgments. This ensures fairness in writing assessments across England from the Department for Education. 

The Key Stage 1 SATs, which are optional tests, are available to sit in May. Schools can choose when pupils sit the Maths and English papers within this month-long period. 

More support preparing for SATs 2026

Since 2013, Third Space Learning has helped primary schools across England with SATs practice through one to one online maths tuition. Whether it’s to close learning gaps in the maths national curriculum or prepare pupils for the SATs test format, AI tutor Skye adapts its teaching to suit each pupil. 

A Third Space Learning online SATs revision lesson.

When primary schools sign up for one to one maths tutoring with Skye, they receive unlimited sessions for unlimited pupils, meaning you no longer have to choose between the pupils who need help and what your school budget can afford. With Skye, you can support every Year 6 pupil, helping them succeed in their SATs and feel prepared for the transition to secondary school.

Find out more about AI tutoring for primary schools, including our SATs Revision Programme.

SATs 2026 revision resources

Whether schools are signed up for targeted one to one tutoring or not, teachers can access the Third Space Maths Hub to support Year 6 pupils on their SATs journey. 

Schools and teachers can access hundreds of free resources, including SATs practice papers and past papers and SATs worked examples, Year 6 maths SATS papers and a KS2 SATs revision page with links to all the resources you’ll need. 

Those schools signed up for unlimited tutoring sessions also receive access to the premium Maths Hub resources for no additional cost.

To really hone in revision on the most frequently occurring topics, you’ll want to use this carefully curated maths revision programme of the top 20 maths topics. It aims to help all students achieve a standardised score of at least 100 and improve school performance in maths. 

KS2 SATs papers release from embargo

All SATs test materials and mark schemes for KS2 maths and English are expected to be released online for download in May 2026 but the exact dates aren’t yet available. 

These will comprise the English reading paper, the English grammar and punctuation paper, the English spelling paper, and the mathematics papers, including arithmetic and reasoning. 

Previous SATs results and analysis

GET THE ANALYSIS ON PREVIOUS SATS

SATs have been running in their current incarnation for 7 years; there were no government standardised assessments in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Get all the analysis and results from previous national assessments below.
And find out which are the top 20 year 6 maths revision topics to focus on this year.

– SATs papers 2025
– SATs results 2025
– SATs papers 2024
– SATs results 2024
– SATs papers 2023
– SATs results 2023
– SATs papers 2022
– SATs results 2022
– SATs papers 2019
– SATs results 2019
– SATs papers 2018
– SATs results 2018
– SATs papers 2017
– SATs results 2017
– SATs results 2016

Other statutory primary assessments in 2025/26

Statutory assessments are still required in other year groups at primary school, particularly in reception, Year 1 and Year 4.

Reception baseline assessment

All reception baseline assessment schools must administer the RBA to children in the first six weeks of the autumn term. This establishes a starting point for measuring progress to the end of key stage 2.

The assessment is carried out one-to-one and includes early maths, literacy and language tasks appropriate for the reception year. Schools must complete the assessment for all eligible children who enter reception in September.

Phonics screening check

The phonics screening check must be completed during the week commencing 8 June 2026. It applies to:

• All Year 1 pupils
• Any Year 2 pupils who did not meet the expected standard in Year 1 or did not take the check previously

Phonics screening check schools must administer the same test to all children and mark it using DfE guidance.

Multiplication tables check

The multiplication tables check window opens in June 2026. Schools can choose the date but must complete the check within the two-week national window from Monday 1 June 2026.

The check is statutory for all Year 4 pupils in multiplication tables check schools. Children answer 25 timed questions online, focusing on recall of multiplication tables up to 12 × 12.

SATs results 2026 FAQs