Set a useful baseline
Before week one, use a recent school assessment or one age-appropriate practice paper to identify the three areas that lose the most marks. Do not begin by completing paper after paper. A baseline is useful only when it changes what is taught next.
The six-week plan
| Week | Maths focus | English focus | End-of-week check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 Accuracy first | Revisit written and mental methods for the four operations. Complete two short arithmetic sets without a timer. | Read one short text closely. Practise retrieval questions and underline the exact evidence used. | Can the child explain two corrected errors without a prompt? |
| Week 2 Fractions and inference | Fractions, decimals and percentages: equivalence, ordering and finding fractions or percentages of amounts. | Inference: explain what a character thinks or feels and support the answer with words from the text. | Repeat five questions from earlier in the week and compare accuracy. |
| Week 3 Reasoning and GPS | Two-step word problems, units, ratio and deciding which operation is needed before calculating. | Sentence structure, word classes, punctuation choices and a focused spelling pattern. | Sort errors into method, reading, arithmetic or carelessness. |
| Week 4 Shape, data and vocabulary | Area, perimeter, angles, coordinates, tables, graphs and reading scales accurately. | Meaning in context, synonyms, summary and explaining how a word or phrase affects the reader. | Complete one mixed 25-minute session, then correct it without looking at the answers first. |
| Week 5 Timed sections | One arithmetic section and one reasoning section on separate days. Practise moving on and returning. | One reading section and one short GPS set. Keep a list of recurring spelling and punctuation errors. | Check pacing: were easy marks lost because too long was spent on one question? |
| Week 6 Consolidate | Revisit the three Maths topics that still produce errors. Avoid introducing a large new topic. | Revisit two reading question types and the highest-frequency GPS errors. Include normal reading for enjoyment. | Finish with a short confidence review: what is now easier, and what is the plan if a question feels difficult? |
A repeatable weekly rhythm
Use the same simple pattern each week. Predictability reduces negotiation and makes it easier to notice progress.
| Session | Length | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 20-25 minutes | Teach or review one method, then complete five carefully chosen questions. |
| Session 2 | 20-25 minutes | Apply the same skill in a different context and correct mistakes immediately. |
| Session 3 | 20-30 minutes | Mix the skill with earlier learning so the child must choose the method independently. |
| Optional session 4 | 15-20 minutes | Retrieve spellings, arithmetic facts or vocabulary. Keep this session light. |
Weekly planning sheet
Week beginning: __________________ Main priority: __________________________________________
What improved:
What needs another explanation:
What the statutory tests cover
The current Key Stage 2 test structure includes English grammar, punctuation and spelling; English reading; Mathematics Paper 1 arithmetic; and Mathematics Papers 2 and 3 reasoning. Writing is judged through teacher assessment rather than a separate externally marked SATs paper.