KS2 SATs Results Explained: Expected Standard, Higher Standard and What Primary League Tables Show

At the end of Year 6, pupils in England sit national tests in reading, mathematics, and grammar, punctuation and spelling, and their writing is assessed by teachers. The results are published for every state-funded primary and are the basis of this site's primary rankings.

The two headline figures

• Expected standard in reading, writing and maths (RWM): the percentage of pupils who reached the expected standard in all three. Nationally this has been around 60 to 62% in recent years.
• Higher standard in RWM: the percentage reaching the higher standard in all three, nationally close to 8%.

A school at 80% expected and 20% higher is performing well above the national picture; one at 50% and 3% well below. Small schools move a lot from year to year because a cohort may contain only 15 or 20 pupils, so look at more than one year where you can.

Progress measures

The DfE normally publishes reading, writing and maths progress scores comparing each pupil with others who had the same Key Stage 1 results. These were not available for 2024/25 because the baseline assessments were disrupted and Key Stage 1 tests have since been made optional, so the current rankings use attainment only.

Reading the figures sensibly

Intake matters. Look at the free school meals share on the profile: schools with a higher share face more barriers, and a school at 65% expected with 40% of pupils on free school meals may be doing a stronger job than one at 75% with 5%.

Ofsted reports, which now use narrative judgements rather than a single grade, cover behaviour, curriculum and leadership, none of which show in test figures.

What the tables miss

SATs measure a narrow slice of a primary education. They say nothing about science, the arts, sport, languages, pastoral care or how happy children are. Use the numbers to build a shortlist and the visit to decide.