Week 6

Wow! Well done Year 6's for a super hard-working six weeks. You deserve a well-earned break and some sunshine! 

This week we have been finishing off our topics and completing end of topic quizzes in Science and Geography and working on our hot writes in Writing lessons. We really got stuck into the final chapters of our book 'The London Eye Mystery' but will have to wait until the holidays to find out the ending!

This afternoon, the much anticipated casting of our school play was shared with the Year 6's. It was an absolute joy to see the class celebrating each other's achievements and the excitement they had for their classmates. A very proud teacher moment. And in a very professional manner, we had our first table read through, which was full of giggles! Can't wait to start the rehearsals after the break; Year 6, start learning your lines!

Enjoy your half term break.

Week 5

The Year 6's have been incredible this week, showing a calm and positive attitude towards their SATs tests. We are extremely proud of them and enjoyed our celebration breakfast of bacon and sausage rolls together this morning. Lots of smiles and relaxed faces!

We conducted an experiment investigating heart rates in Science. We made predictions about how different types of exercises affect your heart rate and the skills involved in conducting a fair test. In Art this week we looked at the work of abstract artist Fiona Rae. We watched a video of her in her studio and spent time analysing and interpreting her work. Year 6 then responded by recreating her piece 'Untitled' from 1991: exploring shape, colour and the feelings it provoked in us. We have continued to read 'The London Eye Mystery' in our Reading lessons and this week analysed how likely Ted's theories are and predicting which we think is the most likely outcome of the story.

The Year 6 children and their parents organised a cake sale Friday afternoon to raise funds for their leaving party; there were long queues and lots of delicious cakes! Thank you.

Week 4

This week we have focussed on revising for our SATs test next week and preparing for David Attenborough Day on Friday by learning a song to sing as a whole school. We have been planning a heart rate experiment in Science and finding out more about Shakespeare in History lessons. 

On Friday we focused some of our learning around Sir David Attenborough to celebrate his 100th birthday. In Reading we explored a new text about his achievements and accomplishments in the world of natural history, looked at his documentaries and discovered some exciting and fascinating facts. In Art we watched some of his series 'Life in Colour' and using iPads, we investigated nature in our chosen colour palette. We are not quite finished, but hope to put together our collaborative piece of art next week, weaving and intertwining our individual pieces, the way nature does the same in the natural world.

Week 3

This week has been a very busy one for Year 6 as they completed their mock SATs papers. Alongside this, we have discussed effective exam techniques and how best to prepare for SATs week. The entire class approached the tests with maturity and responsibility, and we are very pleased with their results. These will help us identify any misconceptions or gaps in knowledge so we can provide targeted support.

In Geography, we have been learning how to use 6-figure grid references. During our Talk for Writing lessons, pupils have been planning their own suspense stories by drawing and describing a scary setting, ready to begin writing next week. In Science, we explored the effects of cigarettes on different organs of the body.

We combined Art and Drama this week after exploring the painting 'Gassed' by John Singer Sargent, reading the story in the picture and exploring the meaning and history behind it. Then we staged a re-enactment, where the children worked very successfully in groups to form each section of the painting, wrapping themselves in 'bandages'!

In Maths, we have begun to look at line graphs and the story they tell. We explored the steep, shallow and horizontal lines that showed that something is changing and at what rate it is changing. The children really enjoyed investigating these stories and will continue next week learning to draw their own line graphs.

A fantastic week Year 6 for your enthusiasm and hard work, you should be very proud of yourselves! 

Week 2

This week has been another busy week preparing for SATs. We had a visit from Fiona, from WEST, who chatted to us about our transition to high school and she gave us lots of ideas and techniques we could use if we felt anxious.

In Geography we learnt about four-figure grid references, in Science we looked at legal drugs and their affects on our bodies and brains and in PE the children have been extending their cricket skills. 

In Art we have continued to study the work of well-known and influential artists, this week looking at 'The Dance' by Paula Rego. We learnt a little bit about her; that she drew inspiration from childhood stories and her imagination and liked to use big colours and dark shadows, with her figures often out of size with their surroundings. This was because she liked to tell a story. We looked at 'The Dance' to try and read into her story, then learnt more about it using the Tate website and video clips.

In Maths lessons this week we have exploring position and direction; plotting coordinates, translating and reflecting shapes and problem solving. We have been working so hard!

A big well done for the progress in Reading so far this term. Children are really getting stuck into their books and completing quizzes successfully on our Accelerating Reading program. Enjoy your weekend and remember to relax with an exciting book in your hand!

Week 1 

It has been a fantastic start to the new term, and the children have returned with a focused and determined attitude. As we head toward our SATs, we are balancing our rigorous revision sessions with other  exciting work designed to keep the children engaged and inspired.

In our English sessions, we are currently mastering the art of the suspense story, learning how to use "show, not tell" to keep readers on the edge of their seats. This ties in perfectly with our new class book, The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, a gripping "whodunnit" that has already sparked some brilliant classroom theories!

Our wider curriculum this term is packed with variety:

• Geography & History: We are beginning a new local study on Stratford-upon-Avon, exploring its rich Tudor history and its significance as the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

• Science: Our focus is on Diet and Lifestyle, where children will investigate how the human body functions and the impact of exercise and nutrition on our long-term health.

• Art: Our new unit is Painting and mixed media, focusing on understanding narratives and descriptive language in art, exploring the meanings behind paintings, and developing personal interpretations and abstract art pieces based on selected artists. This week we looked at the work of British artist David Hockney and the children engaged in discussion about his work, their observations and thoughts, which as always were interesting and varied!

• Computing: This term our focus is on Variables in games, where we will explore the concept of variables in programming through games in Scratch. This week we have learnt what variables are and related them to real-world examples of values that can be set and changed.

• SATs Readiness: While we are working hard on our practice papers and arithmetic, we are prioritising "spelling stamina" and confidence-building to ensure every child feels prepared and calm for the weeks ahead.

Thank you for your continued support with homework and spellings—it truly makes a substantial difference to the children’s progress!