Teach-Primary-Issue-19.8

www.teachwire.net | 45 SA T S S P E C I A L Objective/Model/Practise/ Review structure, for example, addressing specific weaknesses identified through your ongoing formative assessment, rather than simply repeating comprehensions. Build stamina for the test format – pupils face one hour with substantial booklets, requiring concentration and time-management skills. Continue daily class reading of rich, challenging texts throughout the spring term. Exposure to sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentences supports comprehension far more effectively than isolated test practice. Explicitly teach how to approach different question types: skimming for key words in retrieval questions, combining textual clues with prior knowledge for inference, and using context and word parts for vocabulary questions. GPS prep Grammar, punctuation and spelling results remained steady at 74 per cent of pupils meeting expected standard in 2025. This test is particularly suited to targeted preparation, as the content domain is clearly defined and pupils can make rapid progress with focused teaching. Use item-level analysis – where you consider how pupils answer the different types of questions in GPS assessments – to identify precisely which grammar concepts your pupils haven’t mastered. Common stumbling blocks include identifying clauses, using the subjunctive mood and applying punctuation in complex sentences. For spelling, analyse patterns in errors. Are pupils making mistakes with high frequency words, commonly misspelled words or prefixes and suffixes, for example? Target teaching towards these patterns using morphological approaches. Short, daily practice is usually more effective than longer weekly sessions. Writing prep Writing teacher assessment showed 72 per cent of children meeting expected standard in 2025, but just 13 per cent worked at greater depth, unchanged since 2022. This suggests many pupils achieve expected standard but struggle to demonstrate the sophistication required for higher outcomes. Provide regular extended writing opportunities where pupils draft, refine and edit substantial pieces. Model the writing process explicitly, showing how to plan effectively and make ambitious vocabulary choices. Focus on addressing pupils’ specific weaknesses. For example, some need handwriting fluency; others need spelling and punctuation support; some need help generating ideas. Once again, build this into your working week using the periods at the beginning and end of the school day, for example, or times before and after breaks. SATs week prep As SATs week approaches, transition to consolidation and confidence-building. In the final fortnight, you are likely to be more nervous than most of your pupils; try not to let this show! Make sure that you are familiar with requirements for the assessment days themselves (find the DfE’s guidance at tinyurl.com/ tp-SATsGuidance ), and that your pupils know what is expected of them during SATs week. Make sure, too, that you have a clear plan for timetable arrangements, breakfast provision, additional staffing for access arrangements, and room prep, and involve all the staff in your briefings. And don’t forget to celebrate the end of SATs week! Best of luck. TP challenging topics multiple times rather than leaving difficult areas until the final weeks. Arithmetic fluency remains fundamental, as does effective use of calculation methods. A few minutes of daily practice builds automaticity. For reasoning, teach pupils to dissect word problems methodically, modelling how to identify key information and determine which operations are needed. This metacognitive approach helps embed understanding, rather than relying on learned procedures. You can find a great step-by-step article on this from Gareth Metcalfe at tinyurl.com/tp-WordQs Reading prep Reading held up well in 2025, with 74 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard. However, comprehension remains challenging, particularly with inference, retrieval from dense texts and vocabulary questions. Create focused mini-lessons using a clear SATS 2026 KEY DATES SATs week: Monday 11 May – Thursday 14 May 2026 Test schedule: • Monday 11 May: English grammar, punctuation & spelling (Papers 1 & 2) • Tuesday 12 May: English reading • Wednesday 13 May: Mathematics (Papers 1 & 2) • Thursday 14 May: Mathematics (Paper 3) Results available: Tuesday 7 July 2026 (provisional) Richard Selfridge is a primary teacher, writer and Insight Education data consultant. His latest book, A Little Guide for Teachers to Using Student Data (£10.99, SAGE), was published in 2024. @richardselfridge.bsky.social @databusting insightinform.co.uk