In Wales the national curriculum programmes of study for key stages 1 to 4 are broadly similar to those of England, as is the current statutory assessment system, although pupils at key stage 1 no longer take national tests in science. At key stage 1, pupils' work is assessed by their teachers to provide an end-of-key-stage level. The statutory teacher assessment level reported at the end of key stage 2 has equal value to the test level and both are reported nationally. There have never been published primary school league tables in Wales. In this article, the author highlights some distinctive features of studying science across the border.