Statutory Assessments at Vermont School

Statutory assessments are the assessments that schools in England are legally required to carry out, report, or submit to the Department for Education (DfE). They form part of the national assessment system to monitor pupils’ attainment and progress against national standards. At Vermont School, we understand that every child’s learning journey is unique. We believe that statutory assessments are just one way to celebrate the progress children make over time, and we always approach them with sensitivity and flexibility.

Children at Vermont School have the opportunity to take part in national assessments where this is appropriate to their individual learning pathway. A child’s curriculum pathway does not automatically determine whether they sit these tests — decisions are made on a needs-based approach, taking into account the level of work they are accessing, whether taking part would be a positive experience for them, and through discussions with families to ensure decisions are made collaboratively and in each child’s best interests.

Phonics Screening Test

In Year 1, children take part in the Phonics Screening Check, which usually takes place in June. This is a short, one-to-one activity with their class teacher that helps show how well pupils can use their phonics skills to read words.

During the check, children are asked to read 40 words aloud – a mix of real words and nonsense (alien) words. The use of nonsense words helps teachers see whether pupils can apply their phonics knowledge to unfamiliar words, rather than relying on memory. The check is designed to feel calm, friendly, and supportive, and most children see it as a fun reading challenge.

Children who do not meet the expected standard in Year 1 are given additional support and will have the opportunity to re-take the check in Year 2. This ensures every child has time to develop the skills they need to become confident, fluent readers.

The results help teachers identify any pupils who may need extra help with reading. They do not affect a child’s academic record or progress data and carry no weighting within the school’s internal assessments. Instead, they are simply used to ensure every child receives the right support to build strong early reading skills.

You can read more about the Phonics Screening Check on the government website here.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

Each summer term, all Year 4 pupils in England take part in the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). This is an online assessment designed to check how well children know their times tables up to 12 × 12. During the check, children answer 25 multiplication questions on a computer or tablet. They have 6 seconds to answer each question, with a short pause between each one. The questions are randomly generated and focus mainly on the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables, as these are often the most challenging. The test usually takes less than 5 minutes to complete and is designed to be a low-stress, simple activity. Results are shared with the school to help teachers identify any gaps in pupils’ times tables knowledge and provide extra support where needed. They do not have any impact on pupils’ academic records or progress data and carry no weighting within school assessments.

You can read more about the MTC on the government website here.

Key Stage 2 SATs

At the end of Year 6, children may take part in the Key Stage 2 national tests (SATs). These usually take place in May and include papers in Reading, Mathematics, and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling.  Each paper has a set time limit, and pupils are fully supported beforehand so they know what to expect. Teachers ensure the environment is reassuring and low-stress, with plenty of encouragement throughout.

SATs help schools and families understand how well children have learned the national curriculum and identify any areas where further support may be needed. The results provide a snapshot of each child’s attainment at the end of primary school, but they do not define a child’s overall ability or progress. They carry no formal weighting within the school’s internal assessments and are used alongside teacher judgements to give a balanced picture of each pupil’s learning.
You can read more about the KS2 SATs on the government website here.

Access and Support

At Vermont School, we make sure that reasonable adjustments are in place for pupils who take part in statutory assessments. These are based on each child’s usual classroom practice and take into account recommendations within their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), where relevant.

Our focus is always on ensuring that children feel safe, supported and confident. Taking part in statutory assessments is never about pressure — it’s about giving every child the chance to show what they can do, in a way that works best for them.

If you have any questions about statutory assessments, please speak to your child’s class teacher or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.