SATs week can feel like a daunting time for both teachers and pupils, but with careful planning and preparation, it doesn't have to be overwhelming. If you're looking for ways to support your year 6 class through their tests, we've got you covered with these practical tips and strategies. You'll find plenty of ideas to help maintain a positive classroom atmosphere while ensuring your pupils are well-prepared and confident.
Getting started: Resources to support your SATs preparation
Before diving into our top 10 tips, you might find it helpful to check out our comprehensive guide to key dates and resources for SATs week 2025. We also have an extensive collection of practice papers and teaching resources to support your preparation. And because wellbeing matters just as much as academic readiness, don't forget to explore our resources for supporting children's mental health.
Essential SATs preparation tips for year 6 teachers and pupils
1. Keep the routine
There can be a temptation to change things up too much during SATs week. However, this may make the week become a bigger event than it needs to be, rather than just a few quick tests to show what the children can do. Encourage parents to keep their children’s week as normal as possible as well, so that they continue to attend after-school clubs, for instance. In the afternoon, plan some activities that you know your class will enjoy and will help to get them up and out of their seats. This could be extra P.E lessons, drama, art and DT projects or opportunities for outdoor learning.
2. Time for revision?
Last-minute cramming won’t do anyone any favours! Trying to quickly skim over everything in a short space of time will unsettle everyone and could lead to panic! If, in the lead up to SATs, you decide to do some more revision, why not ask children to look through their books and suggest the areas they’d like to revise further? You can then tailor the learning to suit children’s individual needs by providing small group work sessions and a range of worksheets to help children practise a particular skill or revisit knowledge.
3. Be the SATs expert!
Rather than repeatedly reminding the children of good exam technique, engage them by asking them to become the expert! Set up an agreed list of basic tips e.g. reading questions carefully, checking answers make sense, staying focused, remembering (when allowed) to have questions read to them and so on. Then ask the children to decide how best to present these tips to their class or even the next year 6. Possible ideas include a humorous role play, a poster, a podcast, a game, a mnemonic and so on. The possibilities are endless!
4. Have a moment of calm
Many teachers find mindful visualisations helpful for promoting calm and focus during potentially stressful times such as SATs. Education consultant Jenny Mosley suggests that schools provide a symbol pertinent to their own school for children to focus on during visualisations. A link to one of Jenny’s visualisations can be found here.
5. Breakfast club
Why not set up a breakfast club strictly for your year 6 children during SATs week? It’s a great way to ensure children arrive at school in good time for their tests and have had breakfast – even if it’s a brioche! Set aside some money from the school's petty cash to buy supplies and/or ask for donations from parents. Many children will appreciate the chance to play games, read or simply chat with their friends before they sit for an extended time.
6. Hold a SATs meeting for parents
It may sound obvious, but organising a pre-SATs meeting with the parents can help them understand what their child will undergo during the test week and allow them the opportunity to ask questions. Explain the types of tests their child will undertake and give examples of questions. Take this opportunity to emphasise how important it is for children to come to school that week and to arrive in good time, to have a good night’s sleep and to make time for fun and relaxation. Take the opportunity to promote a breakfast club too!
7. Celebrate
It is important to have something to look forward to after all of your hard work. Why not plan a party for Friday afternoon of SATs week and allocate party food for each child to bring in? You can plan some games for the children to play such as Capture the Flag, or organise a treasure hunt. And while you’re at it, be sure to plan something good for yourself for the weekend after SATs!
8. Continue to focus on learning
When the SATs are over it can be hard to keep the focus of the class. A good idea is for each child to create a short lesson/activity/presentation about one of their own skills or area of expertise. For instance, a skill such as juggling, knitting or dancing, or an area of knowledge such as planets, recycling or a different culture can be very motivating for children. Make use of homework and class time for each child to present their area and decide how best to teach it to the class. It is also an excellent way to build self-esteem and confidence, as well as celebrate differences.
9. Your future self
An enjoyable end of year activity is to ask children to write a letter to their future selves. Using this handy time capsule writing activity, encourage pupils to reflect on their primary school experience, including their SATs week. They can write about whatever they want, as it is purely a letter to them, but they could write about the people who are important, such as friends and teachers or adults in school who have helped them, as well as future dreams and hopes. Place the letters into a self-addressed envelope and agree on a year to send them. Now all you have to do is keep them safe and post them. Hopefully, the letters will be a lovely surprise and will be full of memories of their younger self!
10. Be positive!
Whatever your own feelings about SATs, present the tests in as positive a light as possible, whilst not overdoing it, of course! It is a test but it’s only a test on what they’ve already been taught. Focus on all of the skills they have learned in English and maths rather than the tests themselves. A quick skim through their books will remind the children (and you!) of everyone’s hard work this year and how much you have learnt. Remember that the tests are simply a snapshot of what the children can do at the end of the year in preparation for secondary school.
Download these 10 tips for SATs week as a handy printable PDF to share with colleagues or parents. Explore the full SATs collection for more SATs practice materials and teaching resources.
