🌸 Welcome to the Spring Term – Year 5 🌸

Welcome back, Year 5! We hope you all had a restful and happy break and are ready for an exciting Spring Term ahead.

This term will be full of new learning, challenges, and opportunities to shine. In English, we’ll be exploring engaging texts and developing our writing skills through creative and persuasive work. Our maths lessons will build confidence with fractions, decimals, and problem-solving. In science, we’ll be investigating fascinating topics and carrying out hands-on experiments to deepen our understanding of the world around us.

We’re also looking forward to our new topics in history and geography, as well as continuing to develop our skills in art, PE, and computing. There will be plenty of chances for teamwork, creativity, and independent learning.

Thank you for your continued support at home. Let’s make this Spring Term a positive, productive, and enjoyable one for everyone in Year 5!

🌼 We’re excited to learn and grow together this term! 🌼

Year 5 – End of Week Update

Year 5 have had a very busy and productive week!

In Maths, we have been working on adding and subtracting mixed-number fractions. This was a tricky concept, but the children showed great perseverance, taking their time to understand the methods and answer questions confidently.

In English, we have been learning about the features of biographies. The children are preparing to write a biography about the main character from our class story Mama Miti in the coming weeks, and they have already shown a great understanding of how biographies are structured.

In RE, we compared the Beatitudes with the Ten Commandments. The children worked thoughtfully to identify which commandments and beatitudes link together. We also learned about the Transfiguration of Jesus. The children put themselves in the shoes of a disciple and created diary entries describing what happened on the mountain — some wonderful imaginative writing!

In History, we have begun our new topic on the Kingdom of Benin. The children created timelines showing key events in Benin’s history and are looking forward to learning more about this fascinating civilisation.

It has been an amazing week of learning.

Well done, Year 5!

Year 5 – End of Week Update-Week 3 

What a fantastic week it has been in Year 5! I am incredibly proud of the class — behaviour has noticeably improved, and the children have been completing their work quietly and with great focus. Well done, Year 5!

We have packed in lots of exciting learning across the curriculum this week.

In English, the children wrote wonderful biographies about Mama Miti. They then had the opportunity to uplevel their writing using green pen to improve vocabulary and sentence structure. We also introduced our new writing focus: Dilemma Narratives. The children acted out different consequences from a given scenario, helping them understand how choices drive a story forward.

In Maths, we completed our fractions assessment and have now started our new module on multiplication and division. The class has approached this with a positive attitude and determination.

In RE, we explored the Lord’s Prayer, linking each petition to real-life scenarios today. We also carried out role-play activities based on the Beatitudes, acting out ways we can show hope and love in our daily lives.

In Computing, the children began creating their own digital art galleries using SketchUp. They have shown great creativity and enthusiasm while learning new design skills.

In History, we dived deeper into our topic on the Kingdom of Benin. The children examined different artefacts to help them understand what life was like in this fascinating civilisation.

It has been a busy and productive week, and I am so proud of everything the children have achieved. Keep up the fantastic work, Year 5!

Year 5 – End of Week Update-Week 4 

What a busy and productive week it has been in Year 5!

In English, we began our new unit on Dilemma Narratives. The children have been exploring the key features of this genre by carefully “picking apart” model texts. They identified both the structural elements and the language techniques that make these stories so engaging, including building tension, developing characters’ thoughts and using descriptive and emotive language. We are excited to begin writing our own narratives soon.

In Maths, we started our learning on multiplication and division. This week, the children have been focusing on multiplying 3-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers using the column method. They have shown great resilience and determination when tackling these more challenging calculations.

In RE, we consolidated our learning about the Beatitudes by creating a thoughtful class tree to represent our ideas. We also explored the Transfiguration, discussing how different artists portray this important event in a variety of ways.

In History, we continued our work on the Benin Kingdom. The children researched and gathered information from around the classroom before using their knowledge to design and create the perfect Oda, thinking carefully about its features and purpose.

In Computing, the class began designing their own virtual art galleries using the SketchUp app on the iPads. They worked hard to build the structure of their galleries and are looking forward to adding items and details next week.

We have had a fantastic week filled with enthusiasm and effort. Keep up the great work, Year 5!

🌟 Year 5 Weekly Round-Up 🌟

What a busy and productive week it has been in Year 5! The children have worked incredibly hard across all subjects and should feel very proud of their achievements.

In English, the class has now completed their own dilemma narratives inspired by our class text Mama Miti. The children carefully applied the language and structural features we have been practising, including building tension, using rich description and creating dramatic turning points. Their finished stories are full of suspense, emotion and fantastic vocabulary – a real pleasure to read!

In Maths, we have moved on to learning about division, focusing on the method of short division. The children showed great determination when tackling this new concept and demonstrated growing confidence when solving increasingly challenging problems.

In RE, we explored different artistic interpretations of The Transfiguration. The children compared a range of artworks before completing their own creative pieces, alongside thoughtful written explanations about the meaning behind their work.

In History, we continued our learning about the Kingdom of Benin, investigating the roles of the Oba and ordinary people. We discussed how people lived, the jobs they did and how society was structured, helping us build a clearer picture of daily life in this fascinating civilisation.

In Computing, the children further developed their virtual art galleries. They added furniture and refined their designs, linking back to our earlier learning about the key features of an art gallery. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and technical skills coming together.

Well done, Year 5, for another week of enthusiasm, focus and excellent effort. Keep up the fantastic work!

Year 5 – End of Week Update-Week 6 

What a full and busy week we have had in Year 5!

In Maths, the children have now completed their unit on Multiplication and Division. They have worked incredibly hard to develop their understanding and confidence with formal methods and problem-solving. We will be completing our final assessment this morning, and I am really looking forward to seeing all that the children have learnt and how much progress they have made.

In English, the children spent time carefully editing and up-levelling their dilemma narratives. They showed fantastic maturity in improving vocabulary choices, sentence structure and adding detail to build tension. We have now begun our assessed piece of writing, which the children will complete independently. I will be marking these over half term and cannot wait to read all of the creative ideas they produce!

In Art, the class explored printing techniques. The children carved their own designs into foam pads before rolling paint over them and printing onto large sheets of paper. The final pieces look fantastic – bold, creative and very effective. Well done, Year 5!

We also visited the church this week to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The children sang hymns beautifully and took part in the service with respect and reverence. It was a lovely opportunity for reflection as a school community.

Tuesday was an especially important and fun day as we marked Internet Safety Day. The children were off timetable for the morning and took part in computing activities focused on understanding AI and learning how to stay safe online. They asked thoughtful questions and showed a mature understanding of how to use technology responsibly.

It has certainly been a busy week to end the half term! I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for the Spring 2 term — let’s smash it!

Spring Term 2-Week 1

Year 5 – End of Week Update

What a busy and brilliant first week back we have had in Year 5! The children have returned full of enthusiasm and ready for lots of new learning.

In English, we have begun exploring our new class text, Ride the Wind by Nicola Davies. The children started by making thoughtful predictions about what they think the story might be about. We then focused on the main character, Javier, and wrote detailed character descriptions, thinking carefully about his personality, thoughts and feelings. There were some fantastic ideas shared!

In Maths, we have jumped straight back into our learning on fractions. This term, the children will be developing their understanding further by learning how to multiply fractions. We have started by revisiting key concepts to ensure everyone feels confident moving forward.

In RE, we learnt all about Ash Wednesday. We watched a video of the service and discussed its meaning and importance in the Christian calendar. The children then wrote diary entries imagining their experience of attending a service, showing empathy and thoughtful reflection.

In Science, we began our new topic on materials. As the sun was shining, we took our lesson outside onto the playground! The children worked scientifically to test different materials and investigate their properties, including flexibility, absorbency and transparency. It was wonderful to see such great teamwork and enthusiasm — a fantastic hands-on lesson with everyone fully involved.

Today, we have a very exciting end to our first week back as we head into London to visit the Science Museum! We are all looking forward to a day full of discovery and inspiration.

Well done Year 5 for such a positive start to the term! 🌟

Welcome to Year 5- 

Welcome to our Year 5 class page! My name is Mr. Hambidge, and I’m delighted to be guiding your children through an exciting and important year in their learning journey.

In Year 5, we aim to foster curiosity, independence, and a love of learning across all subjects. From exploring new ideas in maths and English, to diving into history, science, and the arts, this year is full of opportunities for growth and discovery.

We value respect, kindness, and perseverance, and we work together as a team to support one another both in and out of the classroom.

Here you’ll find updates on what we’re learning, important dates, and ways you can support your child’s progress at home. I’m looking forward to a fantastic year ahead, full of fun, learning, and achievement!

Thank you for visiting — and welcome to Year 5!

Warm regards,
Mr. Hambidge
Year 5 Class Teacher

Year 5’s Fantastic First Week!

What a brilliant start to the new school year!

Year 5 have hit the ground running and made an excellent start to their learning journey. We began the week by discussing our expectations for the year ahead and what it means to be a positive, responsible member of our class and school community.

Our learning has already taken off in our books too! In English, we explored a prediction lesson that got everyone thinking creatively and making thoughtful guesses about texts. In Maths, we’ve been getting to grips with Roman numerals – a fun challenge that everyone tackled with enthusiasm.

In History, we delved into life during the Anglo-Saxon and Viking times, comparing how their lives differ from ours today. The class showed great curiosity and interest as we explored how people lived, worked, and travelled in the past.

In RE, we reflected on the themes of Creation and Covenant, producing some beautiful display work to brighten up our classroom and help us think deeply about these important topics.

It’s been a jam-packed, exciting first week and Year 5 should all be very proud of themselves for the fantastic start they’ve made.

Have a restful weekend and we’ll see you all ready for Week 2!

Many thanks,
Mr Hambidge 😊

End of Week 2 – Year 5 Update

We've had another fantastic week in Year 5, full of learning, curiosity, and creativity!

In Science, we’ve been exploring the order of the planets in our solar system. The children enjoyed learning a fun rhyme to help them remember their names and positions – a great way to make space facts stick!

In English, we've been diving deeper into our class text, working on understanding the thoughts and feelings of the main character. We also began writing our own setting descriptions, using rich vocabulary and imagination to bring scenes to life.

In Maths, we’ve focused on our place value chart, ensuring everyone has a strong understanding of large numbers and how they work. It's been wonderful to see the children building confidence in their number knowledge.

The class has continued to settle into Year 5 brilliantly, showing enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards their learning. We're looking forward to what next week brings!

Year 5 Weekly Update!

It has been another busy and exciting week in Year 5!

In English, we have been exploring the features of diary entries. After carefully planning our ideas, we are now ready to write our own diary entry inspired by our class text The Promise.

In Maths, we have been focusing on reading and writing numbers up to one million – a big challenge, but one we’ve tackled with enthusiasm!

In History, we’ve started learning about the Vikings and their invasions of Britain. The children have really enjoyed researching and discovering more about these fierce warriors.

In Science, we have been looking at the solar system and how the planets move. The class were fascinated by how everything orbits the Sun and how it all fits   together.

Due to the children's great behaviour we have be offered to go to the Tower of London on a school trip in October! Well done Year 5!

Well done Year 5 for such a productive week of learning – we can’t wait to see what next week brings!

Mr Hambidge :) 

Year 5 – End of Week Update

What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 5!

In English, the children have been stepping into the shoes of the main character from The Promise by Nicola Davies. They have been working hard on drafting their own diary entries, imagining the thoughts and feelings of the character. We’ve seen some brilliant creativity and empathy shining through their writing, and we’re almost ready to write up our final versions in best.

In Maths, we’re coming to the end of our Place Value module. This week, the focus has been on understanding "more and less," as well as rounding and comparing numbers up to 1,000,000. The children have shown great determination and are becoming much more confident in tackling these big numbers.

In Science, we’ve taken on the role of researchers, exploring the lives and work of different scientists to deepen our understanding of how the solar system works. It’s been wonderful to see the children so curious and inspired by the discoveries that have shaped our knowledge of space.

In RE, our focus has been on the Ten Commandments. We’ve been discussing what they mean, how they guide people’s behaviour, and why they are still important in today’s society. The class have had some thoughtful conversations and are developing a strong understanding of moral values and responsibility.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re proud of all the hard work Year 5 have put in this week and are looking forward to another exciting week of learning ahead!

Have a lovely weekend!

— The Year 5 Team

Year 5 Weekly Update – A Fantastic and Productive Week!

This week in Year 5, we’ve had a busy and exciting time full of learning and creativity!

In English, the children worked hard to complete their diary entries. They spent time editing and improving their work before writing up their final versions in best. We’ve now moved on to our new module: instructional writing, inspired by the text The Promise. To help them understand the features of instructions, the children planted seeds themselves — a hands-on experience that they’ll use to write clear and detailed instructions early next week.

In Maths, we wrapped up our unit on place value. The children completed their end-of-unit assessments and demonstrated a strong understanding of the concepts. We are now ready to dive into our next topic: addition and subtraction.

In Science, as part of our Black History Month focus, we learned about the brilliant inventor Dr Lonnie Johnson and his contributions to science. The children created informative and well-presented fact files all about his life and inventions.

In History, we explored the impact of the Viking invasion on the Anglo-Saxons. The children were really engaged in discussions about how life changed during this period.

In Art, we’ve been learning about architecture. The children used their imaginations to design and create their own futuristic buildings, combining creativity with structural thinking.

In RE, our discussions centred around sins and virtues, helping the children reflect on moral choices and their importance.

It’s been a fantastic week of learning, and Year 5 have shown excellent focus, creativity, and curiosity. Well done, everyone!

We’re all looking forward to our trip to the Tower of London next Thursday – a great way to bring history to life!

Thank you,
Mr Hambidge

Year 5 Weekly Round-Up – What a Week!

What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 5!

In English, the children proudly completed their instructional writing on how to plant a seed to transform a bleak city — their creativity and attention to detail were brilliant! We've now begun our exciting new unit on poetry, using the vibrant and imaginative book Cosmic Disco by Grace Nichols as our inspiration. Next week, we’ll be exploring the features of both ballad and free verse poetry, ready to create our own poems linked to our science topic: Space.

In Maths, we continued to develop our skills in addition and subtraction. The children confidently demonstrated a range of mental strategies and learned how to carry numbers effectively — fantastic problem-solving all round!

Science took a very tasty turn this week as we learned about the phases of the Moon. The children thoroughly enjoyed this practical lesson, using Jaffa Cakes to model the different lunar phases — a deliciously fun way to learn!

A real highlight of the week was our trip to the Tower of London on Thursday. It was a fascinating day and a brilliant opportunity to kick-start our future learning on the Tudors. We discovered how Henry VIII changed the religion of the country in order to marry multiple times — and we even got to meet Catherine Parr before her marriage to the King! The children were engaged, respectful, and represented the school beautifully. Well done, Year 5!

Bring on the final week of term — we’re ready for it!

🌟 Year 5 – End of Week Update! 🌟

What a fantastic first week back after the half-term break! The Year 5 children have jumped straight back into learning with enthusiasm and energy.

In English, we’ve started our brand-new text “The Dam” by David Almond. The children have been exploring the advantages and disadvantages of dams, ready to use their persuasive skills to write a letter in the coming weeks.

In Maths, we’ve kicked off our new unit on multiplication and division. The children have been working hard to build on their knowledge and tackle new challenges with confidence.

Thursday was our exciting Continents Day, where we focused on South America! It was a jam-packed day full of creative and hands-on activities. The children:

• Created the shape of the continent out of clay (ready to paint in a future lesson!)

• Sorted human and physical features of South America

• Designed powerful posters about deforestation

It’s been a brilliant week full of learning, creativity, and teamwork. Well done, Year 5, for such an amazing start to the new half term! 🌎✨

Have a lovely weekend, 

Mr Hambidge :) 

🌟 Year 5 – End of Week Update! 🌟

What a jam-packed week we’ve had in Year 5!

This week was assessment week, and we are incredibly proud of how brilliantly the children approached their Maths, Reading, and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar papers. Their focus, determination and positive attitudes were fantastic—well done, Year 5!

Alongside assessments, we continued our work in Maths, exploring multiplication and division. The children were busy investigating factors, prime numbers and cube numbers, showing great curiosity and confidence as they tackled new challenges.

In English, we have been delving deeper into the thoughts and feelings of the characters in our class story. The children also researched and wrote persuasive arguments about whether dams are a good or bad idea—excellent preparation for the news reports they will be writing next week!

As part of our Remembrance work, the class created some thoughtful artwork and beautiful poems to mark Remembrance Sunday. Their creativity and sensitivity really shone through.

To finish the week on a high, we have been rehearsing our class assembly on Space. The children are very excited to perform for the school and their parents next Friday—we can’t wait to share their hard work with you!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! 🌙✨

Year 5 – End of Week Update

What a jam-packed week we’ve had in Year 5! As well as rehearsing for our class assembly on space and poetry, the children have been busy diving into lots of new learning.

In English, we’ve begun exploring news reports. The children are preparing to write their own article based on the debate: Are dams good or bad ideas? They’ve already shown great enthusiasm for investigating both sides of the argument but most of the class believe they bring a negative impact. 

In Maths, we’ve started our unit on multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000. The class has shown fantastic focus and resilience as they built confidence with these important skills.

During RE, the children have been learning about Psalms, discussing their meanings and reflecting on how they can be applied in our lives today.

A huge thank you to all the parents who attended our assembly today! The children worked incredibly hard, and their performance really showed it.

We’re already looking forward to next week, especially our trip to Matilda the Musical, which the children are very excited about.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Mr Hambidge

🌟 Year 5 – End of Week Update! 🌟

What a wonderfully busy and exciting week it has been in Year 5!

📚 English
This week, the children have been exploring the features and language of formal letters. They have analysed examples, identified key stylistic elements, and discussed why formal tone is important. All this fantastic preparation will support them as they write their very own formal letters next week!

➗ Maths
We began our new topic: fractions! Year 5 have been learning the difference between unit and non-unit fractions and applying this understanding in class activities. On Thursday, we enjoyed a practical lesson where the children worked together to create a whole-class fraction wall by folding and comparing pieces of paper — a brilliant hands-on way to visualise fractions!

⛪ RE
We visited the church this week to celebrate the Advent Mass. The children were wonderfully respectful as we reflected on the start of the Advent season. We also continued rehearsals for our Christmas concert next week — excitement is building!

🌍 Geography
In Geography, the children have been learning about the continent of South America. They annotated maps with key countries, major features, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn. Their map skills and geographical understanding are really developing!

🔬 Science
Year 5 also carried out a fascinating experiment on gravity. Using two cupcake cases, the children predicted which would reach the ground first and discussed the variables they needed to change or keep the same. Excellent scientific thinking all round!

👏 Well done, Year 5, on another amazing week! Keep up the fantastic work!

Year 5 End of Week Update

What an active and exciting week it has been in Year 5!

In English, the children have been working incredibly hard to complete their formal letters, inspired by our class text The Dam by David Almond. They confidently applied the correct language features and layout, showing just how much they’ve learned. Next week, we will be editing and uplevelling their writing to make it even better.

In Maths, we’ve continued our work on fractions. The children have shown great determination in learning how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions—and back again!

Our Geography lessons have taken us across the globe as the children researched key locations in South America and created detailed fact files to share their discoveries.

In R.E., the class explored the roles and responsibilities of different cardinals, deepening their understanding of leadership within the church.

One of the highlights of the week was our Christmas concert at the church. The children were absolutely amazing! They learnt their lines, perfected the actions, and performed with confidence and joy. We are all so proud of them.

We rounded off the week with some class comprehension activities and a festive bit of cooking in DT.

Well done, Year 5—another brilliant week!
Only 1 week to go until the Christmas holidays!