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 20252024 to 20262025
Reception baseline assessment
Schools must complete the the reception baseline assessment for for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.
Early years foundation stage profile assessment
Schools must complete the the early years foundation stage profile assessment between 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 the optional key stage 1 tests are administered during May 2026.2025.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 1112 May to Thursday 1415 May 2026.2025:
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday 11 |
English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2 |
| Tuesday 12 |
English reading |
| Wednesday 13 |
Mathematics papers 1 and 2 |
| Thursday 14 |
Mathematics paper 3 |
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 12 June 2026.2025.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 89 June 2026.2025.
To add a full list of all important dates to your calendar, you can download the:
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Academic year 20262025 to 20272026
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 2027.2026.
Key stage 2 tests
The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 1011 May to Thursday 1314 May 2027.2026.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 71 June 2027.2026.
Phonics screening check
Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 148 June 2027.2026.
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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.
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Schools 2021
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Updates to this page
Update history
2025-10-13 09:30
Added assessment dates for the academic year 2027 to 2028.
2025-09-29 09:30
Removed past test dates. Added the detailed timetable for the key stage 2 tests in 2026. Added the 2 new downloadable calendars with important dates for key stage 1 and key stage 2 assessments in the academic year 2025 to 2026.
2025-04-28 09:30
We updated the following dates in the downloadable ‘Key stage 2 assessments calendar 2024 to 2025’: MTC administration guidance published and MTC service available from 28 April 2025 (not 28 March), local authorities carry out KS2 monitoring visits between Tuesday 6 May and Friday 23 May 2025 (not between Tuesday 6 May and Tuesday 20 May 2025). Users who previously downloaded this calendar should delete and re-download it, or manually amend these dates in their current version.
2024-10-10 14:30
Added the downloadable KS1 assessments calendar with key dates for the academic year 2024 to 2025
2024-10-01 09:31
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.
2024-02-12 09:02
Added dates and links for schools carrying out the Department for Education’s early years foundation stage framework profile assessment in primary schools.
2023-11-02 14:03
Dates added for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
2023-10-11 10:59
Added downloadable key stage 1 assessments calendar with important dates for the academic year 2023 to 2024.
2023-10-09 09:55
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.
2023-03-09 10:58
Added two downloadable calendars with important 2023 assessment dates for: key stage 1, key stage 2
2022-12-12 09:00
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 timetableAdded test dates for the academic year 2024/2025Amended 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)
2022-04-07 15:55
Line added to the information about the KS1 tests for the 2023/24 academic year.
2022-03-21 17:00
Dates updated for the 2023/24 academic year.