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17/09/2025 Year 5 have had a brilliant start to the term and have settled well into the routines of upper Key Stage 2. Our topic this term has been World War II, which has inspired some fantastic cross-curricular learning. In English, the children have been writing setting descriptions of wartime scenes, focusing on building atmosphere using metaphors, onomatopoeia and personification. This has linked closely with our Humanities work, where we’ve explored key aspects of life during WWII. In Maths, we’ve been developing our understanding of place value and working confidently with larger numbers. PE has been energetic and collaborative, with pupils enjoying tag rugby and outdoor learning activities that have helped build communication and teamwork skills. In PSHE, we’ve been thinking about personal goals and how to stay motivated, while Forest School has given us the chance to design and build shelters inspired by our WWII theme. In RE, we’ve explored the Christian creation story and discussed how it can be interpreted both symbolically and literally. The children have shown great enthusiasm and maturity across all areas of learning, and we’re proud of the thoughtful and creative work they’ve produced so far.
1/10/2025 We’ve had a brilliant week in Year 5! In maths, we’ve been working hard on column addition and subtraction, building confidence with larger numbers. In humanities, the children created visual timelines of different parts of World War II in groups, then presented their work and combined it to make one big class timeline — it was fantastic to see their teamwork and understanding. In science, we explored the gestation periods of humans and animals, researching and analysing how they compare. Forest School was full of creativity as the children made spinning tops and spiders using conkers. In PE, we’ve continued developing our passing and carrying skills in rugby, with lots of energy and enthusiasm. In English, we created persuasive leaflets from the perspective of a child in our class book, trying to convince her parents to evacuate — we focused on persuasive techniques and grammar features like parentheses, relative clauses, and modal verbs. It’s been a fun, busy week full of learning and creativity.
15/10/2025 We’ve had a brilliant week in class, packed with learning, creativity, and plenty of teamwork. The children have really thrown themselves into everything with enthusiasm and curiosity. In maths, we’ve been working on addition and subtraction, comparing calculations, and finding missing numbers. We’ve also started exploring multiplication and factors, which has sparked some great problem-solving discussions. In English, we’ve been diving into prefixes and suffixes as part of our blackout poetry unit. The children have enjoyed experimenting with language and creating some thoughtful pieces. PE has been full of energy as we continue with rugby and outdoor learning — lots of muddy boots and big smiles! Forest School gave us a chance to test our resilience and teamwork with our “conker fight” challenge, which was a real highlight. In RE, we’ve been exploring the idea of Christian scientists — a fascinating topic that’s led to some deep thinking and great conversations about how science and faith can work together. Science has been all about David Attenborough. The children have been researching his life and work and are now writing biographies based on what they’ve learned. It’s been inspiring to see how much they admire his passion for the natural world. It’s been a full and exciting week, and we’re so proud of how the children are growing as learners and as people.
6/11/2025 We’ve had a great week in Year 5! The children have been busy learning across a range of exciting subjects and have shown fantastic curiosity and creativity. In English, we began with a thought-provoking task — the children were told there would be “no more fun” in school! They wrote powerful and persuasive pieces explaining why fun is important for learning, linking this to our new class novel, Rose Blanche, which explores themes of justice and compassion during World War II. In Art, we created stunning space-themed collagraph prints. The children glued a range of classroom materials onto cardboard to build up texture, painted over their designs, pressed them onto paper, and then added drawings of planets, rockets, and stars to complete their work. The results were fantastic! In Maths, we explored cube numbers and practised estimating volume and capacity, using real-life examples to make our learning hands-on and meaningful. During PE, we started our new gymnastics unit, focusing on balance, coordination, and creative movement. In DT, the children became engineers, designing and building bridges, then experimenting to find the strongest and most stable designs. In Science, we explored changes that occur with old age. The children took part in a practical circuit where they experienced challenges such as weakened grip strength, blurred vision, and memory tests, helping them to appreciate how our bodies and abilities can change over time. They discussed their findings and reflected on how these changes affect everyday life. Finally, in English, we also completed our WW2-themed blackout poetry, where the children selected words and phrases from historical texts to create powerful visual poems — a beautiful combination of creativity and empathy. It’s been a busy but brilliant week of learning, and we are so proud of the effort and enthusiasm the children have shown in every lesson. Wishing you all a lovely weekend, 21.11.2025 We’ve had a great week in Year 5. In English, the children have been completely absorbed in Rose Blanche and produced thoughtful information texts about why the Allies wanted to defeat Hitler and his unjust treatment of Jewish people. They’ve worked hard to use relative clauses alongside simple and compound sentences, and the results have been impressive. In maths, we’ve started fractions, looking at unit and non‑unit fractions and finding equivalents. The children are beginning to spot patterns and explain their reasoning with growing confidence. History has taken us back to the Blitz, where we explored what life was like during air raids and even built our own model shelters — teamwork and imagination really shone through. DT has been hands‑on and lively, with spaghetti and tape used to test bridge structures; the children loved experimenting and problem‑solving as they figured out what made a design strong. In gymnastics, we’ve focused on body tension and core strength, with the class showing determination and control as they refined their movements. And in RE, we explored the Old Testament before bringing our learning to life with a class rap, performed together with rhythm and enthusiasm. It’s been a fun, active, and engaging week of learning, and the children have done a fantastic job across every subject.
05.12.2025 What a productive week it has been. Following the focus and determination shown during last week’s assessments, this week offered the children an opportunity to broaden their learning in new and exciting ways. Our visit to the Imperial War Museum in London was a particular highlight. The children approached the trip with enthusiasm, and it was clear that the preparation they had done in class helped them to engage meaningfully with the exhibits. Seeing the subject matter brought to life in such a setting deepened their understanding and sparked thoughtful discussion. Back at school, the children took part in a showcase of their learning. They spoke with confidence and pride, sharing the knowledge and skills they have developed this term. It was rewarding to see how much progress they have made and how keen they were to present their work. We would like to extend our thanks to all parents and carers for your continued support. Your encouragement at home and involvement in school life plays a vital role in helping the children succeed.
09/01/26 We’ve had a brilliant first week back in Year 5, and the children have settled straight into their learning with real enthusiasm. In English, we’ve begun building towards writing an explanation text all about tectonic plate movement, and the class has shown great curiosity as we explore the science behind earthquakes and volcanoes. In guided reading, their engagement with Holes has been excellent, with thoughtful discussions and strong contributions. In maths, we are working on subtracting fractions and confidently converting between improper fractions and mixed numbers — it’s been wonderful to see their resilience and growing accuracy. Our space topic in science has already sparked lots of excitement, and PE has kicked off with energetic basketball sessions. In RE, we’ve started learning about Islam, and in PSHE the children have been setting meaningful goals for the term ahead. It’s been a focused, positive start, and they should all feel very proud.
06.2.2026 We’ve had a really positive week in Year 5. In Maths, we’ve finished our second fractions unit and have started looking at decimals and percentages. In English, the children wrote inner monologues from a character’s perspective in Into the Volcano and have been really engaged with the text. Their writing is flowing much more now, with confident use of commas and subordinating conjunctions. In PSHE, we explored dream careers, researching what qualifications are needed and thinking about what steps the children can take right now. In PE, Miss Ally has been leading cricket, which the children have loved, and I’ve enjoyed seeing their confidence grow in basketball. The children have also had a fantastic time in Forest School with Mrs Sabin, getting hands-on with puddles and cooking in the mud kitchen — full of curiosity, teamwork, and creativity! In Humanities, we used atlases to explore time zones and North America, while in Science we’ve been learning about space, including Earth and the Moon. The children have asked brilliant questions and shown real curiosity and scientific thinking. Lots of work from this week has gone up on our Star Work board — I was genuinely spoiled for choice. It’s been a great week, and we hope you all have a lovely weekend.
27.2.2026 We’ve had a positive start to the term in Year 5, with the children showing great focus and enthusiasm across all subjects. In maths, we’ve been working on fractions, decimals and percentages, making links between them and applying these skills in problem‑solving. We’ve also begun exploring perimeter and area, and the class has enjoyed investigating the size and shape of different spaces. In English, we’ve started our new book When the Mountains Roared and have begun planning alternative story versions. The children have been practising figurative language and using dialogue to bring their writing to life. In PSHE, our topic is Healthy Me, and we discussed the effects of smoking in a calm, factual and age‑appropriate way before taking part in a fun class quiz to check our understanding. PE has been a real highlight, with maypole practice and our JLS‑inspired boy‑band dance routine— the children have absolutely loved it and have even been leading the moves (and yes, they’ve definitely put me to shame!). In RE, we’ve been learning about the Easter story and thinking about its importance to Christians. In computing, we’ve been exploring copyright and how to use other people’s work responsibly. In humanities, we’ve begun learning about tectonic plates and how they shape our planet. It’s been a busy, exciting start, and Year 5 should feel very proud of themselves.
26.3.2026 We’ve had an action‑packed week of learning, with the children throwing themselves into every subject. In science they explored states of matter through hands‑on experiments, comparing reversible changes like melting and refreezing ice with irreversible ones such as toasting bread. The standout moment of the week, though, was Earthquake Day: the children arrived to find the classroom in chaos, with tables tipped over and resources scattered, instantly sparking excitement and curiosity. They created colourful layered models of the Earth, built and tested their own earthquake‑proof structures, and later captured the drama in a diary entry. In DT they continued their brilliant work constructing gear and pulley systems, while in maths they developed their confidence with lines and graphs. We also kept up our maypole practice, rounding off a week full of energy, imagination and fantastic learning.
1.5.2026 Year 5 have had a fantastic start to the new term, showing real focus and maturity across all areas of learning. In maths, the children have been working hard on measurement and have begun to develop their understanding of angles, using accurate mathematical language and careful reasoning. In English, they wrote a powerful diary entry from the perspective of a mouse linked to The Executioner’s Daughter, demonstrating creativity, empathy, and strong understanding of character perspective. This has also been a strong entry point into our Tudor unit, where the children have begun exploring the Wars of the Roses and building a timeline of the Tudor dynasty using their own research. Their enthusiasm for history has been clear, with many making thoughtful connections between key events and figures. In PSHE, the children have been developing their understanding of self-belief and goal setting, confidently discussing their own aspirations and what they want to achieve moving forward. In science, the focus has been on forces, with a particular emphasis on how surface area and air resistance affect how different objects fall. The children have begun to think more critically about fair testing, including controlling variables and considering how to make their investigations more reliable, increasingly thinking and working like scientists. In PE, the children have been preparing a maypole dance for May Day, working collaboratively to learn patterns, timing, and coordination, and showing real enthusiasm for this traditional celebration. In RE, they have been exploring Islam, focusing on the concept of Akhirah (the afterlife) and how this belief influences how Muslims live their lives.
15.5.2026 What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 5! The children have worked with real enthusiasm across the curriculum and should be very proud of their efforts. In Maths, we have begun a new topic on coordinates. The children have been learning how to plot points accurately on a graph and then use them to solve simple problems. There has been lots of great mathematical thinking as they started to explore patterns and explain their reasoning. In English, we’ve been absolutely wowed! The children researched a famous Tudor figure of their choice and wrote detailed biographies about them. They have done a brilliant job using fronted adverbials and parenthesis to add depth and detail to their writing. The results have been engaging, well-structured, and full of historical interest. In Science, we carried out some exciting investigations into water and air resistance. The children tested different shapes of Blu Tack dropped into cylinders to see which was most streamlined and how surface area affects resistance in water. We also had some excellent discussions about what makes a fair test and considered the limitations of our experiments like real scientists! In PE, the focus has been on hockey skills, including passing, dribbling, and intercepting. The children have shown great teamwork and improving control of the ball each lesson. In Humanities, we have continued our learning about Henry VIII, his court, and the reasons behind his break from the Church of England. The highlight of the week was definitely our “hot seat” activity, where the children stepped into role and prepared thoughtful press conference-style questions to ask Henry VIII himself! In PSHE, we focused on online safety. The children explored a range of scenarios, highlighting parts that made them feel unsure and discussing why. They then looked at different online gaming situations and considered possible implications, working together to decide how to stay safe online and why these choices matter. The discussions were thoughtful and mature, with lots of sensible ideas shared. Overall, it has been a brilliant week of learning, curiosity, and effort from all of Year 5. The children have been amazing and continue to impress us every day. Wishing you all a lovely weekend, Year 5 Team
19.6.2026 Year 5 have had a fantastic week! Wednesday’s trip to Sulgrave Manor was undoubtedly a highlight of the week. The children immersed themselves in Tudor life and explored the fascinating history of the manor through a range of engaging activities. They played Tudor games, practiced Tudor writing and explored the historic manor house. The children represented the school brilliantly throughout the visit, demonstrating curiosity, enthusiasm and impeccable behaviour. It was wonderful to see them bringing their classroom learning to life in such an authentic setting. In PE, we have continued preparing for Sports Day with a focus on athletics. The children have been developing their relay racing skills, practising smooth baton exchanges and effective teamwork. We have also been working on our triple jump technique, concentrating on balance, coordination and powerful take-offs. It has been fantastic to see the determination, resilience and encouragement shown by all pupils as they prepare for the upcoming event. In History, pupils explored one of the most significant events of the Tudor period: King Henry VIII’s decision to break away from the Catholic Church. After learning about the causes and consequences of this decision, the classroom was transformed into a royal press conference. I took on the role of Henry VIII whilst the rest of the class became journalists, preparing probing questions about his motives, actions and the impact his decisions had on England. The activity generated excellent discussion and debate, with pupils demonstrating a mature understanding of this pivotal moment in British history. In Maths, we have been focusing on adding and subtracting decimals. The children have worked hard to secure their understanding of place value and have shown increasing confidence when solving decimal calculations and reasoning problems. In English, we have continued our work on Macbeth. Pupils have been planning and writing detailed character descriptions, carefully considering how to reveal a character’s appearance, personality and emotions through their writing. They have impressed us with their use of ambitious vocabulary, figurative language and descriptive techniques. In RE, we explored the origins and importance of the Qur’an within Islam. Pupils learned about how Muslims believe the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and discussed why it remains such a significant and respected text for Muslims around the world. The children engaged thoughtfully with the topic and demonstrated great respect during discussions. Well done to all of Year 5 for another excellent week of learning, hard work and enthusiasm. We are incredibly proud of all that they continue to achieve. |
