This resource focuses on non-fiction writing, asking pupils to write a sports report in the style of a news broadcast. It provides practical tools to assess pupils against the end of KS2 writing Teacher Assessment Framework (TAF) for working towards, expected and greater depth standards.
The resource pack offers a structured approach to cross-curricular writing, linking English with PE and sport. Pupils will apply subject knowledge, formal language, accurate tense use and cohesive devices to recount sporting events clearly and effectively.
Pupils are supported with success criteria and checklists, while teachers are provided with clear assessment guidance, in line with the requirement that “pupils’ writing, on which teachers base their judgements, must be produced independently.”
This writing activity works well alongside PE lessons, where pupils can write reports based on games they have taken part in, as well as national or professional sporting events they are interested in. It can also be used as a standalone non-fiction writing task to generate further independent evidence.
Pupils will need an understanding of sporting events, appropriate subject-specific vocabulary and non-fiction writing conventions to produce an effective sports report.
TAF statements covered
Working Towards Standard (WTS)
- Write for a range of purposes.
Expected Standard (EXS)
- Write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences, selecting language that shows good awareness of the reader.
- Use a range of cohesive devices (e.g. conjunctions, adverbials, pronouns and synonyms) within and across paragraphs.
- Use verb tenses consistently and correctly throughout writing.
Greater Depth Standard (GDS)
- Write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences, selecting the appropriate form and drawing independently on what they have read as models for their own writing.
Pack contents
- Personal writing skills checklist – supports pupils in setting and reviewing individual writing targets.
- Sports report writing skills checklist – outlines key features of sports reports without modelled examples for independent editing.
- How to write a sports report poster – explains the structure and key features of a sports report.
- Tenses posters – support pupils in understanding and applying verb tenses accurately.
- Cohesive devices poster – provides examples pupils can use to link ideas clearly.
- Sporting events images – visual prompts to inspire ideas and support planning.
- Sports report planning sheet – helps pupils organise information and structure their report.
- Themed writing paper – PDF for drafting the final report.
- Teacher assessment sheets – track evidence against Year 6 TAF standards and can be placed in pupils’ books.
Suggested teaching approach
Begin by introducing the task and exploring examples of sports reports from news broadcasts. Discuss structure, tone, audience and the use of tense, drawing attention to how events are recounted clearly and formally.
Next, pupils will gather information for their report. This could be based on a PE lesson, a recent sporting event they have watched or an imagined scenario using the image prompts. Pupils orally rehearse recounting events, focusing on tense consistency and cohesive devices.
Pupils will then plan their sports report using the planning sheet, organising key details such as teams, scores, key moments and outcomes. Display the sports report, tense and cohesion posters to support planning without over-scaffolding.
After planning, pupils will write their sports report independently, referring to their personal or general writing checklists. Provide feedback during rehearsal or planning to support independence.
Finally, pupils will edit their writing independently or in pairs using the checklists. Completed reports are assessed against the Year 6 TAF statements using the assessment sheets provided. Pupils may also perform or record their reports to reinforce purpose and audience.
Browse more Year 6 SATs TAF Evidence resources.