Primary assessments: future dates
This page summarises future assessment dates in primary schools, to assist schools with their forward planning.
Assessment dates appear in chronological order. Schools must keep these periods free for administering the assessments. If there should be any changes as a result of the curriculum and assessment review, we will update this page accordingly.
Academic year 2024 to 2025
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
Early years foundation stage profile assessment
Schools must complete the early years foundation stage profile assessment between April and June of the academic year in which children turn 5, which is usually the reception year.
Optional key stage 1 tests
It is recommended that the optional key stage 1 tests are administered during May 2025.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 12 May to Thursday 15 May 2025:
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday 12 May 2025 | English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2 |
| Tuesday 13 May 2025 | English reading |
| Wednesday 14 May 2025 | Mathematics papers 1 and 2 |
| Thursday 15 May 2025 | Mathematics paper 3 |
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 2 June 2025.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 9 June 2025.
To add a full list of all important dates to your calendar, you can download the:
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Academic year 2025 to 2026
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
Early years foundation stage profile assessment
Schools must complete the early years foundation stage profile assessment between April and June of the academic year in which children turn 5, which is usually the reception year.
Optional key stage 1 tests
It is recommended that the optional key stage 1 tests are administered during May 2026.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 1 June 2026.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 8 June 2026.
Academic year 2026 to 2027
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
Early years foundation stage profile assessment
Schools must complete the early years foundation stage profile assessment between April and June of the academic year in which children turn 5, which is usually the reception year.
Optional key stage 1 tests
It is recommended that the optional key stage 1 tests are administered during May 2027.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 7 June 2027.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 14 June 2027.
Updates to this page
Published 18 January 2021Last updated 10 October 2024 + show all updates
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Added the downloadable KS1 assessments calendar with key dates for the academic year 2024 to 2025
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Dates added for the academic year 2026 to 2027. Detailed timetable confirmed for the key stage 2 tests in 2025. Downloadable calendar added for key stage 2 assessments in the academic year 2024 to 2025.
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Added dates and links for schools carrying out the Department for Education's early years foundation stage framework profile assessment in primary schools.
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Dates added for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
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Added downloadable key stage 1 assessments calendar with important dates for the academic year 2023 to 2024.
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Removed past assessment dates from the academic year 2022 to 2023. Added the downloadable KS2 assessments calendar for the academic year 2023 to 2024. Added the schedule of KS2 tests in May 2024.
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Added two downloadable calendars with important 2023 assessment dates for: key stage 1, key stage 2
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- Removed dates for 2021/2022 (as these tests are now in the past) - Updated KS2 test dates for the academic year 2022/23, to reflect the date changes following the announcement of a bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023, and to include the full test timetable - Added test dates for the academic year 2024/2025 - Amended lines to reflect that KS1 tests will be non-statutory from 2023/2024 (applies to academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025) - Changed the multiplication tables check (MTC) period from a 3-week period to a 2-week period, as the third week is only applicable for timetable variations (applies to all academic years)
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Line added to the information about the KS1 tests for the 2023/24 academic year.
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Dates updated for the 2023/24 academic year.
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Primary assessment dates updated.
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First published.