As the academic year begins to draw to a close, Year 5 have truly excelled this term, showing focus, determination, and a growing maturity in their learning. Despite it being a shorter term, it has been packed with rich opportunities — from completing their NTS assessments with focus and resilience, to engaging visits and curriculum trips that brought their learning to life.

It was especially lovely to welcome so many parents to our recent consultation meetings. Your support and involvement make such a difference, and it was a pleasure to share the progress and achievements your children have made.

Throughout the term, pupils have continued to demonstrate a deepening understanding of the importance of their learning, recognising how vital this preparation is as they approach Year 6. We have continued to explore themes of aspiration, ambition, and resilience, encouraging children to see challenges as opportunities for growth and to take pride in their progress.

Year 5 have shown that they are more than ready to rise to the challenges ahead — and we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved so far.

In reading, we've continued to engage enthusiastically with the Accelerated Reader program, with many students setting ambitious goals to successfully quiz on Level 5 before advancing to Year 6. Our whole-class reading sessions have fostered insightful discussions and thoughtful responses, sparked by the captivating narratives of 'Tom's Midnight Garden' and the informative content of 'The Secret World of Plants'. 

Our writing has also inspired by 'Tom's Midnight Garden', which served as a springboard for crafting our own imaginative portal stories. During this creative process, we focused on developing key writing skills such as 'show don't tell' and utilizing the 'Sentence of 3' technique to enhance our narrative. The concept of portals also provided a framework for structuring discussion texts which we have then used during Diversity Week to talk about our class' country. 

In Maths we have been working hard on our arithmetic skills, focusing on adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions. We have also been recapping all of our learning from Year 5 to complete the final NTS assessments of the year. As always, we were so impressed with their resilience and attitude towards these tests, and it we are very proud of the success of Year 5. 

This term, our foundation subjects have taken Year 5 on an exciting learning journey across both geography and science.

In Geography, we’ve been learning all about deserts—from the vast sands of the Sahara to the rocky terrain of the Mojave. Pupils explored the unique features of these extreme environments, the challenges of survival, and how both people and animals adapt to such harsh conditions. Through maps, videos, and creative tasks, children gained a deeper understanding of the world’s drylands and the importance of preserving these fragile ecosystems.

In Science, our focus has been on Living Things and Their Habitats. Students investigated the ways different organisms are classified and how they interact with their environments. From pond dipping to bug hunts, they explored the local school grounds to discover real-life examples of habitats in action. The topic sparked curiosity and important conversations about biodiversity and the role we play in protecting nature.

It’s been a term full of wonder, exploration, and discovery!

Blue Whale Class embarked on an exciting journey to Egypt! Building on their prior knowledge of "Ancient Egyptians" from LKS2 and this term's "Deserts" topic, we delved into what truly fascinated the children about this incredible country. Throughout the week, we've explored traditional Egyptian cuisine, experienced a glimpse of life in Cairo with its stark contrasts of ancient ruins, bustling bazaars, and luxurious hotels, and discovered how the country's main religions are woven into daily life. We even learned about the historic Khan el-Khalili market and the oldest tea shop, El Fishawy, which first opened its doors in 1797!

Shark Class explored Sierra Leone, a country linked to OVPA. Pupils asked thoughtful questions, challenged stereotypes, and examined the country's complex history, national flag, and rich biodiversity. They learned that not all African nations are poor and discovered how Sierra Leoneans show "cathedral thinking"—planning for a better future. The class also explored Krio, the local creole language, gaining insight into how language connects people and cultures. Through this exploration, students deepened their global understanding and celebrated the importance of diversity, resilience, and long-term vision.