Ideas for year 6 maths after SATs
Sophie Bartlett shares her helpful list of ideas for year 6 maths lessons after SATs have passed, keeping students engaged right up until the summer!
Although SATs focus heavily on content from all of KS2, a significant portion still draws from year 6, meaning many children leave the test with areas of the KS2 curriculum yet to master. Post-SATs, it’s vital not to abandon maths altogether: doing so risks undoing hard-earned progress and sends the message that maths only matters for tests. With gaps still to plug and under-represented topics like Statistics often overlooked, the summer term offers a valuable chance to revisit key concepts in fun, meaningful ways.
Of course, as with everything, there’s a balance. You’ve worked hard all year and so have the children. This is your last 6-7 weeks with them, so you want to have some fun, and, finally, there is an opportunity to be a bit more creative in maths - a bit more wiggle room within the curriculum. Read on below to find out how to strike a balance of both!
Finishing the curriculum
As we know from analysis, the maths SATs papers are primarily made up of years 3-5 content (enough to ‘pass’ the paper on); that means that around 40% of the SATs questions are taken from the year 6 curriculum. Technically, scoring any less than 100% (with the exception of children making silly mistakes) on the SATs papers means that there is clearly still some of the KS2 curriculum to consolidate. After all, if the children knew all the KS2 objectives solidly and fluently, wouldn’t they all be acing the papers?
Even if they do ‘know it all’, we know how much children forget over the 6-week summer holiday. If we didn’t teach - or at least keep on the boil - any of the KS2 maths curriculum from SATs onwards, that’s nearly 4 months that the children would go without it. No wonder some secondary school maths teachers get frustrated that children can’t seem to remember the most basic of maths concepts!
I know there is SO much to fit into summer term in year 6 - play, leavers service, SRE lessons, transition visits, residentials… but if we abandon the maths curriculum completely, we are doing our children a huge disservice. If we stop ‘teaching maths properly’ after SATs, aren’t we just sending the message that maths in year 6 is just about SATs? A sudden change in routine (e.g. no, or much fewer, timetabled maths lessons as the children know them) is often the cause of much more disrupted lessons; as we know, children thrive on routine.
It’s almost impossible to fit the entirety of the year 6 maths curriculum (as well as plugging those earlier gaps) before May, so it’s possible that you may have skimmed over - or completely missed out - those topics less represented in the SATs, such as Statistics or Position and direction. Of course, there are much more ‘fun’ ways of teaching these topics, such as a data-handling project (see ‘Other maths activities’ below), or translation and reflection games.
Related content:
KS2 SATs 2025: maths papers analysis
KS2 SATs 2025: reading paper analysis
10 common SATs maths mistakes and how to fix them
Getting ready for year 7
A key part of the final term of year 6 is preparing the children for secondary school, both emotionally and academically.
Top 10 maths skills for transition to year 7
What if you could just prioritise giving children 10 key skills that would allow them a solid start at secondary? We asked a range of teachers - from primaries and secondaries - to choose their ‘Top Ten Key Maths Skills for y6 to y7 Transition’. Whilst there was some interesting debate about what to include in this list, we have settled on the following 10 skills:
Scaling integers and decimals by 10, 100 and 1,000
Using formal written methods
Calculating with fractions
Simple angle rules
BIDMAS/The order of operations
Basic algebra skills
Fraction-decimal-percentage equivalence
Choosing and using efficient methods for calculations
Using mental methods and known facts
Finding factors and multiples
Learning by Questions has gathered together transition key skills practice questions that incorporate all of the above skills. You can use the links below with your pupils, or get access to all 10 and more by signing up to a free trial of SATs Springboard.
Transition Key Skills Practice resource 1
Transition Key Skills Practice resource 2
Liaise with your local secondary school
Many secondary schools send transition projects to their feeder primary schools - however, if yours hasn’t done this, it’s always worth asking. They’ll be pleased you care about their opinion and they may very well have something that’ll save you a lot of work! You could also ask them to send you a list of the common misconceptions they find amongst the year 7s each year.
Secondary- specific maths equipment
Secondary maths often requires children to use equipment they’re unfamiliar with such as scientific calculators, set squares and compasses. The latter two in particular are usually found in a primary school somewhere - usually in the depths of a dusty cupboard behind the National Numeracy Strategy folder and a tray of broken Newton-meters. Here are some ways of introducing children to this equipment:
Calculator Crunch (from Mathematics Education Innovation) is a fun and practical way to build children’s calculator skills - and you don’t need a scientific calculator for this. This activity offers daily calculator-based challenges that give year 6 and 7 students valuable extra practice in important maths topics, helping them feel more confident using calculators ahead of secondary school. Calculator Crunch 2024 takes place from 24-28 June, with a new problem released each morning to solve using either a basic or scientific calculator. Follow @MEIMaths on X and get involved by using the hashtag #CalculatorCrunch.
Hunt for right angles using a set square, or create a geometric piece of art.
Create a piece of artwork out of circles and curves using a compass.
Combine straight and curved lines, using both a set square and a compass, to create a third piece of abstract art!
Financial literacy
NatWest Thrive
NatWest Thrive (historically called Money Sense) offers free, curriculum-linked resources focused on financial education, careers, and entrepreneurship. The content includes interactive lessons, videos, and real-world scenarios designed to build confidence and decision-making skills in young learners. As well as multiple resources, there are four numeracy 'learning plans' (lasting 1-2 hours) aimed at 11+ year olds: Money mindset, Credit and debt, Money products and Critical consumers.
HSBC Financial education - Smart money
This section of HSBC's Financial Education platform targets ages 11-14 and covers saving, budgeting, and spending choices. It includes worksheets and video content that align with PSHE and maths topics. Activities are interactive and promote independence in managing personal finances. It also states that ‘if you are interested in running financial education sessions, you can nominate your school. The education programme can be tailored to focus on specific age groups and needs so that you can get the most from each session.’
Lloyds Bank Academy - Ages 5 - 16 Financial Skills
Lloyds Bank Academy offers downloadable lesson packs focusing on earning, saving, and spending responsibly. The resources are accredited and mapped to the UK curriculum, making them suitable for classroom use. They encourage real-life application through scenarios like planning a party or managing pocket money. There are two ‘session packs’ designed for 11-14 year olds: Life, work, money... how do I stay in control? and It's my choice.
Barclays LifeSkills
Barclays LifeSkills provides structured lessons (such as Digital payments and Introduction to fraud and scams) that are ideal for upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils. Each lesson includes video clips, discussion prompts, and worksheets. The resources promote teamwork and critical thinking about money decisions.
Practical Money Skills- Financial Football
Financial Football is an interactive game that teaches financial concepts through a fast-paced football match format. Players answer personal finance questions to advance on the pitch, covering topics like saving, credit, and budgeting. It’s a fun, competitive way to reinforce financial knowledge through gameplay.
BBC Bitesize: Managing Money
Managing Money from BBC Bitesize offers engaging videos and quizzes around budgeting and the value of money. The materials are concise and well-suited for 10-12-year-olds, aligning with maths and PSHE objectives. A great resource for short, focused lessons or revision activities.
Bank of England - Education Resources
The Bank of England provides high-quality resources on how the economy works. Designed to be accessible for KS2 and KS3, the resources bring big financial ideas to life in age-appropriate ways. There are three money-related resources appropriate for 11-12 year olds: Gender pay gap, Learning from the financial crisis and EconoME.
Enterprise maths
This is the perfect time to bring maths to life and let pupils apply their financial literacy skills in a real-world context. Give your class a budget and challenge them to plan, cost, and run a small business or fundraising event - think bake sales, craft stalls, or a mini market. Along the way, they’ll practise key skills like budgeting, calculating profit, handling money, and even persuasive writing for advertising. It’s a brilliant way to keep maths purposeful but fun during the summer term, while building confidence and teamwork ahead of secondary school.
Investigations after SATs
It’s important to keep problem solving skills on the go - this gives the children opportunities to continue applying their maths in a low-pressure environment, and they’re also fun!
Investigating Consecutive Numbers, Palindromes and Multiples of 9
Reasoning: Find All Possibilities
You could also use resources from:
Other maths activities after SATs
Games
Who doesn’t love a game? Once the children know how to do these, they are great as time-fillers (give them to the 90% of your class who aren’t main characters in your play whilst rehearsals go on!) or for morning work during registration.
Sudoku: A logic-based number puzzle where each row, column, and 3x3 grid must contain the digits 1-9 with no repeats. Great for developing reasoning and pattern recognition.
KenKen: A grid puzzle combining logic and arithmetic. Pupils must fill the grid with digits (no repeats in rows/columns) and solve arithmetic clues within outlined cages.
Kakuro: A mathematical crossword where digits 1-9 are placed in a grid to match given totals in rows and columns. Reinforces number bonds, addition, and logical thinking.
Hidato: Pupils fill a grid with consecutive numbers that connect horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Builds sequencing, logic, and strategic planning.
Nim: A two-player strategy game involving removing counters from piles. Helps pupils understand mathematical reasoning, game theory, and patterns.
Magic Squares: Pupils arrange numbers in a square so that all rows, columns, and diagonals add to the same total. Enhances number fluency and algebraic thinking.
Sprouts: A pencil-and-paper game where pupils take turns drawing lines between dots under specific rules. Encourages spatial reasoning and strategy.
Number Crosswords: Like traditional crosswords, but with numbers. Pupils solve clues based on arithmetic to fill the grid, boosting calculation and problem-solving.
Hanjie (Nonograms or Picross): A logic puzzle where pupils fill squares in a grid to reveal a hidden picture, based on numerical clues. Develops logical deduction and understanding of coordinates.
Futoshiki: Pupils fill a grid with numbers (no repeats in rows/columns) while respecting inequality signs between cells. Combines logic with comparative reasoning.
Logic Grid Puzzles: Pupils use a grid and a series of clues to determine relationships between different items (e.g., who owns which pet). Develops deduction, inference, and reasoning skills.
Countdown: Based on the TV show, pupils use six numbers and basic operations to reach a target number. Excellent for practising mental arithmetic and order of operations. You can make up the numbers yourself, or there are many websites that will do it for you!
Cross-curricular projects
Cross-curricular projects offer a meaningful way to keep maths relevant and engaging. Pupils might apply their mathematical thinking while designing a theme park, organising a historical event, or exploring sustainable living. These projects create opportunities to connect learning across subjects: writing persuasive adverts in English, investigating materials in science, or using map skills from geography. With a strong real-world purpose, they encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and a sense of ownership that prepares children well for the more independent learning ahead.
Isometric paper
Children may have never seen isometric paper before - and if they have, this time you can give them a lot more creativity with it. Teach them how to draw a cube, and then how to draw more detailed 3D shapes (as if made up of lots of smaller cubes). I often find that children can either ‘see’ these shapes, or they can’t! See if they can write their names in ‘Minecraft font’!
Data handling project
Data handling, referred to as Statistics in the maths curriculum, is often one of the less emphasised areas in the classroom, but it offers a brilliant opportunity for meaningful, cross-curricular learning. After SATs, pupils can take on a hands-on statistics project that combines key mathematical tools and skills. They might begin by designing and conducting their own surveys, asking classmates about things like favourite colours, shoe sizes, or lunch preferences.
Through this, they can explore the difference between discrete data (such as favourite food or number of pets) and continuous data (like height or shoe size), deciding on the most suitable way to present each: bar charts, pictograms, line graphs, or pie charts. Using compasses and protractors to draw pie charts adds a great opportunity to revisit geometry skills in a purposeful way. This kind of project helps bring statistics to life, encouraging children to think critically about how data is collected and represented.
Bases
This one’s a little more complex, but a really interesting way to finish - and perhaps best suited to your more confident mathematicians. Exploring how our number system works (base 10) and comparing it to other bases, like binary (base 2), can be fascinating. It’s likely something the children have never thought about before. Start by explaining base 10, then introduce base 2 - still very relevant in the real world - before moving on to something like base 5, which is easier to calculate with, and finally try a challenge with base 8.
In the final weeks of year 6, there's a real opportunity to show pupils that maths continues to have value and purpose beyond the SATs. With the pressure of assessment behind them, children can explore the subject in more creative and engaging ways that still support their progress. From applying knowledge in real-life contexts to revisiting overlooked areas of the curriculum, keeping maths alive at this stage helps maintain momentum and prepares them for the transition to secondary school.