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Frequently Asked Questions

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  • We haven’t set a strict numerical boundary. In general, children working at ARE would be expected to get most or all of the questions correct. The exact threshold can be set at your discretion or by your SLT, as different schools often take slightly different approaches.

  • The questions are applicable to any curriculum as long as it is mapped against the Ready to Progress criteria.

  • It’s impossible to assess everything. Our assessment focuses on assessing the most important parts of the curriculum (Ready to Progress Criteria) that will make the biggest difference to pupil’s mathematical understanding.

  • No — you don’t need to use everything. Square Club is designed to be flexible. You can choose the assessments that fit your school’s needs — whether that’s quick daily checks, in‑depth termly papers, or a mix of both. Some schools might decide to use the full toolkit; others pick and choose. It’s entirely up to you.

  • The Ready-to-Progress criteria, published by the Department for Education, set out the key mathematical concepts pupils in Years 1–6 need to master to move forward with confidence. They highlight the most essential knowledge in number, calculation, fractions, and geometry, showing how learning progresses through primary school. While they do not replace the full National Curriculum, they provide a government-backed framework to help teachers prioritise teaching, build fluency, and prepare pupils for the next stage of learning.