Princess Charlotte Is Headed for Two Major Milestones When the School Year Starts
Princess Charlotte is beginning Year 2 when school starts this fall. It will mark Charlotte's last year of lower school and the first year she'll take SATs.

- When the school year starts this fall, Princess Charlotte will begin Year 2, which means the six-year-old royal is headed for a couple of education milestones.
- First, Year 2 is the last year of infant or lower levels in U.K. primary schools, meaning that this school year marks the end of an era for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's only daughter.
- Year 2 students also take SATs (Standard Assessment Tests—tests currently given at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 to evaluate academic progress), which will be another first for Charlotte.
Princess Charlotte is growing up so fast.
When the school year kicks off this fall, the six-year-old royal will return to Thomas's Battersea school in south-west London, where she will officially begin Year 2. As Hello! magazine points out, this is a big milestone for a couple of reasons.
First, it's going to mark the end of an era for Charlotte because Year 2 is the final year of lower school years in the United Kingdom. In England primary school (the equivalent, more or less, of elementary school in the United States) is sometimes divided into two stages. Year 1 and Year 2 students (who are typically five and six year olds) are in the the first stage, which is known as the infant or lower levels, while older kids (those between the ages of seven and 10 who are in Years 3-6) are in the second stage, which is referred to as junior level.
The second Year 2 milestone that Charlotte has to look forward to (or not, depending on how she feels about standardized testing) is her first SATs. In the U.K., SATs stands for "Standard Assessment Tests" and refers to exams that primary school children take during Year 2 and Year 6 as a way to evaluate their academic progress. Children in Charlotte's year are tested in math and reading (and there's an optional test in English that covers grammar, punctuation, and spelling).
Unlike most standardized tests in the U.S., the SATs aren't timed, which makes them inherently less stress-inducing. Charlotte could also be the last member of the royal family to take Year 2 SATs, which are set to become option starting in 2023, according to the U.K.'s The Good Schools Guide.
Sending Charlotte some extra good vibes and happy thoughts for her big school year.
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Prince William Could be Getting a New Title Very Soon Following Exciting News
The Prince of Wales would be taking on a very important role.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Best Spring 2025 Color Trends Are on Sale at Nordstrom
From cherry red to butter yellow, here are the delectable shades to wear this season.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
Khloé Kardashian Finds It "Insulting" When Kendall and Kylie Are Called Her Half-Sisters
In fact, she "despises" it.
By Lia Beck Published
-
This Royal Could Become Prince George's "Greatest Asset" When He Becomes King
A new documentary reveals who George could lean on for support.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Aim for "Normalizing Experiences" So Their Kids Don't Think They're "Elevated"
The princess is integrating her "Middleton upbringing and her family values."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Princess Charlotte's Birth Announcement Was Almost Thrown Into Chaos, According to Kate and William's Former Aide
"It was one of those things, like, heart in mouth until we got to the announcement."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Kept Her Cancer Diagnosis Secret for So Long Because She "Hadn't Told" George, Charlotte, and Louis Yet
"It was awful, absolutely awful," a former royal aide explained.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla and Princess Charlotte Share a Sweet Style Connection
It's unexpectedly touching.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Kate "Put Her Foot Down" and Refused to Let George, Charlotte, and Louis Take Part in "Blooding" Tradition
The Princess of Wales is raising her kids on her own terms.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Shares Astounding Artwork by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
The Princess of Wales showcased her own artistic prowess with a delicate drawing.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why You'll Likely Never See One Photo of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
They aren't following in Prince William and Prince Harry's footsteps in one major way.
By Kristin Contino Published