KS2 Report Comments: Resilience (Years 3-6)
Resilience is how a pupil handles learning that feels hard: keeping going, having a go at challenges, being willing to make mistakes, acting on feedback and marking, and recovering calmly after a setback.
Below are 13 sample sentences for KS2 (Years 3-6): two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Consistently / Usually / Sometimes / Not yet), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 resilience sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Consistently · Usually · Sometimes · Not yet · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Consistently C
Strengths
- When independent research becomes tricky, [Name] reliably keeps searching and finds another way forward.
- [Name] reliably manages disappointment with maturity, bouncing back quickly when something does not go to plan.
Next step
- [Name] could model kind, specific feedback during peer-assessment, helping classmates learn to give and receive it well.
Usually U
Strengths
- [Name] mostly stays with longer writing tasks to the end, working through the trickier paragraphs rather than rushing them.
- [Name] usually manages frustration well, and when something goes wrong [he/she/they] can generally calm down and carry on.
Next step
- [He/She/They] could use self-assessment against the success criteria to spot where mistakes creep in and plan how to fix them.
Sometimes S
Strengths
- With longer pieces of writing, [Name] is learning to keep going and, with some support, completes the harder final sections.
- [Name] is developing ways to manage frustration, such as taking a deep breath, and uses them when reminded.
Next step
- Using self-assessment to name one mistake and how to fix it will help [Name] see errors as useful steps in learning.
Not yet N
Strengths
- Breaking longer writing into short chunks, with an adult checking in, is helping [Name] complete more of each piece.
- With adult support, [Name] is beginning to notice the signs of frustration and use a simple calm strategy.
Next step
- A personal target card listing two calm strategies will help [Name] manage frustration in lessons.
Support at home
- At bedtime, you could ask [Name] about one tricky thing from the day and how [he/she/they] could tackle it next time.
How to write resilience comments for KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Cite how the pupil responds to marking: do they act on the teacher's comments in the next piece, correct work in purple pen or ask what to improve? Parents can check this in the books.
- At Key Stage 2, note whether the pupil chooses a harder challenge, such as the chilli option, or sticks to what feels safe. A next step can name the level of challenge to try.
- Separate frustration from giving up. A pupil may get upset yet keep going, so credit the persistence and suggest one calming strategy for next time, such as a short pause or rereading the question.
Watch out: Avoid praising resilience only when a child succeeds in the end. Describe the trying itself, such as attempting a second method in maths, so a pupil who is still working at it gets fair credit.
Let the frequency word set the tone. Consistently suits language such as reliably, independently and without being asked, while Not yet describes what is emerging and the support that helps, such as an adult nearby or a visual prompt. Rather than restating the rating, show it through one behaviour you have seen and how often it happens.
What Resilience covers
In these comments, resilience covers these behaviours:
- keeps trying when learning is difficult
- has a go at challenges and is willing to make mistakes
- responds positively to feedback and acts on it
- manages feelings and bounces back after setbacks
More UK primary comments
- Attitude and Engagement, KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Independence, KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Resilience, KS1 (Years 1-2)
- Collaboration, KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Organisation and Presentation, KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Conduct and Respect, KS2 (Years 3-6)
- Opening and closing sentences
- All UK primary skills and grade bands
- Build a comment with the comment picker
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.