Your child is in Year 6. SATs are approaching. You’re worried that poor results might affect their secondary school place. Before you panic—or push your child into intensive SATs prep—read this. The truth might surprise you.
The Short Answer
No. SATs results do NOT affect which secondary school your child gets into.
Not a little bit. Not indirectly. Not at all.
Why this is 100% certain:
- Secondary school places are offered on National Offer Day—1st March
- SATs happen in May (12-15 May 2025)
- SATs results come out in July
Your child’s secondary school place is confirmed TWO MONTHS before they even sit the SATs.
It’s literally impossible for SATs results to affect secondary admissions. The timeline doesn’t work.
Part 1: Understanding the Timeline
How Secondary School Admissions Actually Work
| When | What Happens | SATs Status |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Year 5 | Parents visit secondary schools on open days | SATs haven’t happened yet |
| 31st October Year 6 | DEADLINE: Submit Common Application Form (CAF) listing your preferred secondary schools | SATs haven’t happened yet |
| January-February Year 6 | Local authorities process applications using admissions criteria | SATs haven’t happened yet |
| 1st March Year 6 | NATIONAL OFFER DAY: Parents notified which secondary school their child has been offered | SATs haven’t happened yet |
| 12-15 May Year 6 | Children sit SATs | SATs happen NOW |
| 8th July Year 6 | SATs results sent to schools | But school place already confirmed 4 months ago |
| September Year 7 | Child starts secondary school | SATs done and dusted |
See the problem?
Your child’s secondary school place is decided and confirmed before SATs even happen. Schools cannot consider information they don’t have.
Part 2: What ACTUALLY Determines Secondary School Places
The Real Admissions Criteria (No SATs Involved)
Every state secondary school must publish their admissions criteria. SATs results are never part of these criteria (except grammar schools—see below).
What Secondary Schools Actually Consider:
For Most Comprehensive Schools:
- Distance from school
- Most common criterion
- Measured from home address to school entrance
- Shortest distance wins
- Creates unofficial “catchment areas”
- Sibling priority
- If child has sibling already at school
- Usually takes priority over distance
- Looked-after children
- Children in care
- Highest priority
- Medical/social needs
- Documented exceptional circumstances
- Why child specifically needs THIS school
- Faith criteria (for faith schools)
- Evidence of religious practice
- Priest/minister reference
- Church attendance records
- Fair banding (some schools)
- Ensures intake represents full ability range
- Uses school’s OWN entrance test
- NOT SATs
- Random allocation (rare, as tiebreaker)
- Lottery system
- Used when all else is equal
Notice what’s NOT on this list? SATs results.
What About Grammar Schools?
Grammar schools ARE academically selective, BUT they use the 11+ exam, NOT SATs.
The 11+ Exam:
- Separate entrance test sat in September/October Year 6 (BEFORE the admissions deadline)
- Tests: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Set by test providers (GL Assessment or CEM) or individual schools
- Different from SATs in content, format, and timing
- Results available before National Offer Day (so can be used for admissions)
Grammar schools criteria:
- Pass mark on 11+ exam (e.g., score of 121+ in Buckinghamshire)
- THEN distance from school OR catchment area priority
- Sometimes random allocation if oversubscribed
Key point: Even grammar schools don’t use SATs. They use the 11+ which happens BEFORE the admissions deadline.
Part 3: So What ARE SATs Actually Used For?
If SATs Don’t Affect Admissions, Why Do Children Take Them?
SATs serve different purposes:
1. Measuring School Performance
Primary purpose: Hold primary schools accountable
- Results published in school league tables
- Used by Ofsted to assess schools
- Government tracks whether schools are meeting standards
- Used to calculate school Progress 8 scores
Translation: SATs are about measuring HOW WELL YOUR CHILD’S PRIMARY SCHOOL TAUGHT THEM, not about your child’s future.
2. Informing Secondary Schools (After Admission)
Once your child has been admitted, SATs results are shared with their new secondary school.
Secondary schools use SATs results to:
- Setting/streaming: Decide which ability groups to place students in for Maths and English
- High SATs scores → top sets
- Lower scores → sets with more support
- Identify support needs: Children who didn’t meet expected standard may get extra help
- Catch-up literacy/numeracy programs
- Small group tuition
- One-to-one support
- Baseline assessment: Understanding where students are starting from
- What the year group knows collectively
- Individual strengths and gaps
- Future target setting: Predicting GCSE potential (Progress 8 scores)
- Schools track whether students make “expected progress”
- SATs results are the starting point for this calculation
Important caveat: Many secondary schools don’t rely heavily on SATs for this either. They often:
- Do their own baseline assessments in September Year 7
- Test students themselves to inform setting
- Use CATs (Cognitive Abilities Tests) instead
Why? Because SATs only measure English and Maths (and only certain aspects of those subjects). Secondary schools want a broader picture.
3. Showing Individual Progress
For parents and students:
- Shows how child performed against national expected standard
- Highlights strengths and areas for development
- Can be compared to Reception Baseline Assessment to show progress over primary years
But this is informative, not decisive.
Part 4: Common Myths Debunked
Myth 1: “My child won’t get into a good secondary school without good SATs”
FALSE.
The reality:
- Your child’s secondary school place is determined by distance, siblings, faith criteria, etc.
- SATs results are not part of admissions criteria for any state secondary school (except grammar schools via 11+, not SATs)
- A child with low SATs scores can get into an “outstanding” rated school if they live close enough
- A child with perfect SATs scores might not get into a school if they live too far away
Myth 2: “Grammar schools look at SATs”
FALSE.
The reality:
- Grammar schools use the 11+ exam (separate test in Sept/Oct)
- 11+ tests verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning (NOT taught in schools, NOT in SATs)
- Different test, different timing, different purpose
- Some grammar schools don’t even know what your child’s SATs scores are when making admissions decisions
Note: Some grammar schools may ask for SATs results when students apply for entry at different points (Year 9, Year 10, Year 12) as evidence of ability, but this is for mid-year entry, not the main Year 7 intake.
Myth 3: “My child needs to pass SATs to go to secondary school”
FALSE.
The reality:
- You cannot “fail” SATs
- There’s an expected standard (scaled score of 100+) but not meeting it doesn’t prevent secondary admission
- Every child goes to secondary school, regardless of SATs results
Myth 4: “If my child fails SATs, they’ll be put in bottom sets forever”
MOSTLY FALSE.
The reality:
- Initial setting MAY be influenced by SATs
- BUT most schools also do their own assessments in Year 7
- AND sets are not fixed—children move between sets based on ongoing performance
- A child who doesn’t meet expected standard in SATs can still move to top sets if they do well in Year 7
Myth 5: “SATs determine my child’s entire future”
ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
The reality:
- SATs have no impact on GCSEs (what actually matters for sixth form/college/university)
- No employer, university, or sixth form will ever ask about Year 6 SATs results
- Children develop at different rates—late bloomers exist
- Effort and attitude in Years 7-11 matter infinitely more than a test at age 11
Part 5: Why Do Parents Think SATs Matter For Admissions?
Understandable Confusion
Several factors create the mistaken belief that SATs affect secondary admissions:
1. The Stress and Pressure
- Schools make a big deal about SATs (because they’re accountable for results)
- Children do extensive preparation and practice
- Parents think: “If it’s this important, it must affect my child’s future”
- Reality: Important for measuring the SCHOOL, not for your child’s next school
2. Timing Confusion
- SATs happen in Year 6, same year as secondary applications
- Both feel like part of the “moving to secondary school” process
- Easy to assume they’re connected
- Reality: Completely separate processes with different timelines
3. Grammar School Confusion
- Grammar schools DO use academic testing (11+)
- 11+ happens around same time as SATs prep intensifies
- Parents conflate the two tests
- Reality: 11+ and SATs are different tests with different purposes
4. “League Tables” Messaging
- Parents use SATs-based league tables to CHOOSE primary schools
- Assume same logic applies to secondary admissions
- Reality: Secondary schools can’t use SATs for admissions (timeline doesn’t work)
5. Schools’ Own Messaging
- Primary schools say “SATs are important”
- They mean: important for showing what we’ve taught
- Parents hear: important for my child’s future
- Communication breakdown
Part 6: What SHOULD You Focus On Instead?
If SATs Don’t Matter for Secondary Admissions, What Does?
1. Choosing Your Secondary Schools Wisely
Attend open days (Autumn Year 5 and Year 6):
- Visit schools on your list
- Talk to teachers and students
- Get a feel for the environment
- See which school suits your child’s personality and needs
Understand admissions criteria:
- Check each school’s admission policy on their website
- Check historical “furthest distance offered” data (shows how far away you can live and still get in)
- Be realistic about your chances based on distance
- Don’t waste choices on schools you have no realistic chance of getting into
Use your CAF strategically:
- Most areas give you 3-6 preferences
- List schools in order of YOUR genuine preference (not what you think will look good)
- Include at least one “safe” school you’re very likely to get into
- Include a mix: preferred school(s) you might get, realistic schools, safe school
2. Supporting Your Child’s Learning (Not Just SATs Prep)
Focus on genuine understanding, not test techniques:
- Reading widely for pleasure (builds comprehension genuinely)
- Understanding maths concepts (not just memorizing methods)
- Curiosity and love of learning (lasts beyond one test)
- Resilience and effort (will serve them through GCSEs and beyond)
Keep SATs in perspective:
- Some preparation is fine (familiarization with format reduces anxiety)
- But intensive tutoring for months isn’t necessary for most children
- SATs measure what child knows NOW—not potential
3. If Applying to Grammar Schools: Focus on the 11+
This IS a test that affects admissions:
- Research which grammar schools you’re applying to
- Find out which test they use (GL, CEM, or own test)
- Practice verbal and non-verbal reasoning (not taught in schools)
- Register on time (deadlines June-October Year 5/early Year 6)
- Consider tutoring IF your child needs it (many do for reasoning)
Don’t confuse 11+ prep with SATs prep:
- Different tests
- Different content
- Different timing
- 11+ matters for grammar admission; SATs don’t
4. Building Good Habits for Secondary School
What will ACTUALLY matter in Year 7:
- Independence (managing homework without being nagged)
- Organization (keeping track of books, equipment, deadlines)
- Resilience (coping with challenges and setbacks)
- Social skills (making friends, working in groups)
- Growth mindset (believing they can improve with effort)
Year 6 is a great time to develop these:
- Give child more responsibility for their own learning
- Let them manage their own homework routine (with oversight)
- Encourage problem-solving before giving answers
- Praise effort and strategies, not just results
Part 7: What to Tell Your Child
How to Talk About SATs Without Creating Unnecessary Stress
What NOT to Say:
- “You need to do well or you won’t get into a good secondary school”
- “These results will follow you forever”
- “This is the most important test you’ll ever take”
- “If you fail, you’ll be in bottom sets”
- “Everyone will judge you on your SATs scores”
Why? All of these are false and create unhelpful anxiety.
What TO Say:
- “SATs show what you’ve learned in primary school. Your secondary school place is already decided based on where we live.”
- “Just try your best. The results help your new teachers understand what you’re good at and where you might need extra help.”
- “SATs are one test on one day. They don’t define who you are or how clever you are.”
- “Some people find tests easier than others. That’s okay. We’re proud of your effort.”
- “After SATs, you’ll have lots of fun activities in school before you finish Year 6.”
If Your Child Is Anxious:
- Acknowledge their feelings (“I know tests can feel stressful”)
- Normalize test nerves (“Lots of people feel nervous before tests”)
- Reframe purpose (“These help teachers understand what you know, not judge if you’re good enough”)
- Keep perspective (“One week of tests, then back to normal lessons and fun stuff”)
- Emphasize you love them regardless (“I’m proud of you for trying, whatever the results”)
Part 8: Special Situations
Appeals and Late Applications
Question: “I’m appealing a secondary school decision. Will good SATs results help my appeal?”
Answer: No.
- Appeals are heard based on whether the school correctly applied their published admissions criteria
- If the criteria don’t include academic performance (and they won’t, except grammar schools with 11+), then SATs results are irrelevant
- You can’t appeal on the basis of “my child got good SATs, they deserve a place”
- Appeals focus on: admissions process errors, exceptional circumstances, whether school genuinely has no space
Moving Areas Mid-Year
Question: “We’re moving areas. Will my child’s SATs results affect getting into a new secondary school?”
Answer: Not for initial admission, but possibly for setting.
- Mid-year admissions use same criteria as initial admissions (distance, etc.)
- SATs results don’t affect whether you get a place
- BUT once admitted, SATs results might be used to determine which set your child goes into
- The new school will request records from previous school including SATs if taken
Children With Special Educational Needs
Question: “My child has SEN. Do SATs results affect their secondary placement?”
Answer: No—EHCP process is separate.
- Children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) have different admissions process
- School named in EHCP must admit the child
- SATs results not part of this process
- If no EHCP, normal admissions criteria apply (no SATs)
- Children can be exempt from SATs if appropriate
Private/Independent Schools
Question: “We’re applying to private schools. Do they look at SATs?”
Answer: Some might, but they use their own entrance exams primarily.
- Most private schools have their own entrance exams (often in January Year 6)
- These are the main criteria, not SATs
- Some schools may request SATs results as additional information
- But offers are usually made before SATs happen
- Check specific school’s admissions policy
Part 9: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do schools put so much pressure on SATs if they don’t matter for secondary admissions?
A: Because SATs results affect the PRIMARY school’s performance data and Ofsted rating. Schools are held accountable for their SATs results. This creates pressure on schools (and therefore teachers and children), but this is about measuring the school, not about your child’s future.
Q: My child’s school said SATs are important. Were they lying?
A: Not lying—communication mismatch. SATs ARE important for:
- Showing what the school has taught
- Informing secondary schools about where to place students
- Giving children experience of formal testing
They’re NOT important for getting into secondary school. The school may not have clarified this distinction clearly.
Q: Should I still help my child prepare for SATs?
A: Yes, but keep it proportionate:
- Some familiarization with test format reduces anxiety (good)
- Supporting learning and filling knowledge gaps (good)
- Ensuring child gets enough sleep and eats well during test week (good)
- Months of intensive tutoring and pressure (probably excessive for most children)
Q: What if my child doesn’t reach the expected standard?
A: It’s okay. Here’s what happens:
- They still go to secondary school (already confirmed)
- They may get extra support in Year 7 (literacy/numeracy catch-up)
- They may be in lower sets initially (but can move up)
- It does NOT define their future—many children who struggle at primary excel at secondary
Q: Do I need to tell my child that SATs don’t matter?
A: Be careful with wording:
- Don’t say “SATs don’t matter at all” (undermines their effort and school’s expectations)
- DO say “SATs show what you’ve learned, but won’t affect which school you go to—that’s already decided”
- DO say “Just try your best. That’s all anyone can ask”
Q: Can I withdraw my child from SATs?
A: No—SATs are compulsory for all Year 6 children in state schools.
- Parents cannot withdraw children from SATs
- Schools can apply for exemptions in exceptional circumstances (e.g., child doesn’t speak English, severe SEN)
- If child is ill on test day, school may arrange alternative sitting
- Private schools don’t have to do SATs (most don’t)
Q: What about Progress 8—doesn’t that use SATs?
A: Yes, but for measuring schools, not admitting students:
- Progress 8 measures how much progress students make from end of primary (SATs) to end of secondary (GCSEs)
- It’s a school performance measure
- Doesn’t affect individual student’s opportunities
- Secondary schools are judged on whether they help students make “expected progress” from their SATs baseline
The Bottom Line
What You Need to Remember
1. SATs Do NOT Affect Secondary School Admissions
Timeline doesn’t work. Offers made in March. SATs in May. Results in July. Simple.
2. What DOES Affect Secondary Admissions:
- Distance from school
- Siblings
- Faith criteria (if applicable)
- Fair banding (some schools)
- 11+ results (grammar schools only—NOT SATs)
3. SATs ARE Used For:
- Measuring primary school performance
- Informing secondary schools about setting AFTER admission
- Identifying children who need extra support
- Baseline for Progress 8 calculations
4. What Matters More Than SATs:
- Choosing right secondary schools and understanding admissions criteria
- Building good learning habits
- Developing independence and resilience
- Maintaining love of learning
- Being happy and confident
5. Keep Perspective:
- SATs are one test on a few days in May
- They don’t define your child
- They won’t be mentioned after Year 7
- GCSEs matter infinitely more—and those are 5 years away
Final Thoughts
The British education system creates enormous stress around SATs. Much of this stress is based on the misconception that SATs results affect secondary school admissions.
Your child’s secondary school place is determined by geography, siblings, faith, and other factors—NOT by how well they perform in a test that happens after places are offered.
SATs matter for measuring schools and informing teaching. They don’t matter for getting into secondary school.
This distinction is crucial. Knowing it can:
- Reduce your anxiety
- Reduce your child’s anxiety
- Help you focus on what actually matters
- Keep Year 6 in perspective
Support your child in doing their best. But don’t let SATs anxiety dominate Year 6. The results won’t affect which secondary school they attend.
That decision has already been made—in March, two months before they even sit down to take the test.
Want to Support Your Child’s Learning Beyond SATs Prep?
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