WHAT ARE THE SAT’S ?
“SAT’s” stands for “Standard Assessment Tests” which refer to a four yearly test that all children in England and Wales are expected to sit at different times in their education. (They are sometimes known as “End of Key Stage Assessments” or “Statutory Assessments”). The SAT’s tests were introduced in 1995 as a way of measuring how much progress each child had made over the past few years of his/her schooling. Their “proper” name is “National Tests” as they are seen as a test taken by every school child in the countries of England and Wales (Scotland has its own version of the National Tests).

WHAT SUBJECTS ARE TESTED IN SAT’s ?
The subjects which are tested in the SAT’s are English and Maths at Key Stage 1 and English, Maths and Science at Key Stage 2 and 3.

WHAT ARE THE KEY STAGES ?
Key Stage 1 refers to children in Infant school (aged 4-7 years).
Key Stage 2 refers to children in Junior School (aged 7-11 years). Key Stage 3 refers to children in Secondary School (aged 11 - 14 years).

WHY ARE THE SAT’S TESTS IMPORTANT ?
The SAT’s Tests are important as it gives a good indication to parents, teachers and the Government on how much progress a child is making in his or her school. In particular, teachers can see in certain areas of the subjects taken, where a child’s weaknesses may be and make strategies to improve this. Obviously some children will achieve a level lower or higher than the national level set by the Government. When a child moves up from the Infants to the Juniors, or from the Juniors to the Seniors, it helps their new teachers to see what level the child has reached in their understanding of English, Maths (and Science).