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Hello everyone!

After a long holiday, a full week back at school is never easy, but we did it and had a really lovely few days of fun and learning together.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Perimeter and Area

End of unit assessment (Decimals and Percentages)

Spr.4.1 – Perimeter of rectangles

Spr.4.2 – Perimeter of rectilinear shapes

Spr.4.3 – Perimeter of polygons

Spr.4.4 – Area of rectangles

Year 6

Area, Perimeter and Volume

End of unit assessment (Fractions, Decimals and Percentages)

Spr.5.1 – Shapes – same area

Spr.5.2 – Area and perimeter

Spr.5.3 – Area of a triangle – counting squares

Spr.5.4 – Area of a right-angled triangle

Literacy 

In Literacy this week, we continued learning about the Galápagos Islands and some of the unique species that live there, including the giant tortoise, marine iguana and Sally Lightfoot crab. The children were fascinated by how these animals survive and why they can only be found in that part of the world.

We focused on some key vocabulary such as endemic species, adaptation, habitat, predator, survival and environment. We spent time talking through what these words actually mean and how they link to one another, which really helped the children when explaining their ideas.

The children were then given fact files about different Galápagos animals. However, the information was deliberately incomplete. Their job was to spot what was missing, carry out further research and improve the fact files by creating their own digital versions. They worked brilliantly in pairs and showed great independence. The finished fact files were detailed, well organised and very impressive.

We also read the true story of Jemmy Button, a young boy taken from his island in the early 1800s by British explorers. After living in England for several years, he eventually returned home and realised he felt more at ease back on his island. This gave us all pause for thought about culture and identity. Are we shaped by where we grow up? Can someone belong to more than one place? It certainly gave us plenty to think about.

IPC

This week in IPC, we launched our new unit, Champions for Change.

Our entry point was a lively persuasion activity where students formed “parties” and had to convince others to join them. Each spokesperson delivered a short speech on a chosen topic, trying to win support from their classmates. To make things more interesting, there were rules in place, such as not being allowed to switch parties if you were wearing a badge, and not being allowed to speak twice.

It was a brilliant way for the children to experience public speaking, decision making and even a little political drama. They quickly saw how people can be influenced for different reasons and how loyalty can shift when new ideas are presented. There were definitely moments of surprise when party members “defected” to another side!

Later in the week, we began exploring influential leaders from history, including Gandhi, Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I. The students gathered information from different locations around the school before carrying out further research to deepen their understanding. They have been working in pairs to prepare presentations, and I am really looking forward to seeing the finished results next week.

Important Information

I am very happy to let you know that all the details for our Term 2 trip have now been finalised. We will be visiting UNIST in Ulsan to take part in an exciting Science Workshop.

Please click the link below for full details of the trip and to give permission for your child to attend. We kindly ask that the permission form is completed and the trip money is sent into school by Wednesday 11th March at the latest.

The trip will take place on Friday 13th March.

Here is the link

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed a well deserved and restful Seollal holiday, however you chose to spend it. It has been lovely to return to brighter skies and milder temperatures, and we were finally able to enjoy PE lessons out on the big college pitch. Long may the good weather continue!

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Decimals and Percentages

Spr.3.15 – Equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages

End of unit review

Year 6

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

Spr.4.4 – Fractions to percentages

End of unit review

Literacy 

In Literacy this week, we began our new focus text Island and read the opening chapter together. The book explores the powerful story of how an island is formed from volcanic activity and follows its journey over time as life gradually begins to appear and evolve. Through detailed scientific explanations and beautiful illustrations, the text introduces themes of change, survival and the natural processes that shape our world. We are looking forward to discovering how the island develops as we continue reading.

IPC

In IPC this week, we celebrated the Exit Point for our Look Hear unit, and it was a brilliant way to end our learning. The students became inventors and sound engineers as they first designed their own original musical instruments, carefully considering how they could change both pitch and volume.

After presenting their individual ideas, they worked in groups to evaluate the strongest elements from each design. Together, they selected the most effective features and collaborated to build one final group instrument using a variety of materials.

The creativity, problem solving and teamwork on display were fantastic and a wonderful reflection of everything we have explored throughout the Look Hear unit. Their instruments are looking fabulous already, and I cannot wait to see and hear how successfully they work next week.

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

It has been so lovely meeting with those of you who were able to attend Parent Teacher Conferences. I really appreciated the opportunity to talk about your children and celebrate their progress.Parent Teacher Conferences have now come to an end, but please remember that parents are always very welcome to come in for a chat at any time if they would like to. I would also like to wish all of our families a very happy Seollal. I hope you have a restful and joyful holiday spent with family and loved ones.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Decimals and Percentages

Spr.3.10 – Round to the nearest whole number

Spr.3.11 – Round to 1 decimal place

Spr.3.12 – Understand percentages

Spr.3.13 – Percentages as fractions

Spr.3.14 – Percentages as decimals

Year 6

Decimals & Fractions, decimals and percentages

Spr.4.4 – Fractions to percentages

Spr.4.5 – Equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages

Spr.4.6 – Order fractions, decimals and percentages

Spr.4.7 – Percentage of an amount – one step

Spr.4.8 – Percentage of an amount – multi-step

Literacy 

In Literacy this week, we have finished our writing unit and all students have written their own stories featuring a character who experiences a redemption arc. They worked hard to include a range of writing skills that we have been learning about in class, including expanded noun phrases, relative clauses, personification, speech marks, writing in the third person, past tense, and using semicolons both to join related ideas and to show contrast. I am really looking forward to spending some time reading their stories over the Seollal holidays.

Next week, we will begin our new focus text, Island.

IPC

This week in IPC, we continued exploring how our sense of hearing works, focusing on how sound waves cause vibrations and how those vibrations help us hear.

We made our own model eardrums using cling film stretched over a bowl with rice on top. When we created sounds nearby, the rice began to move, helping us see that sound is caused by vibrations travelling through the air. This practical activity helped the children understand that sound is not just something we hear, but something that physically moves in waves.

We also watched videos of larger scale experiments to observe how vibrations create visible wave patterns. These clips helped reinforce the idea that sound travels as energy through different materials.

The children then rotated through mini experiments to investigate how sound travels:

• We explored how sound can travel through water.
  
• We tested how a glass cup placed against a wall can help us hear more clearly.
  
• We watched a demonstration showing that sound cannot travel in a vacuum when the air has been removed.
  
• We carried out an investigation using cups filled with different amounts of water to explore the difference between volume and pitch.
  

Through these experiments, the children learned that pitch is how high or low a sound is, while volume is how loud or quiet it is. They discovered that changing the amount of water in the cups changed the pitch of the sound produced.

To extend their understanding of sight and hearing, the students worked in pairs to research an animal with unique visual or hearing abilities. They created informative posters explaining how their chosen animal uses its senses to survive and thrive in its environment. I was very impressed with their teamwork and the quality of research they produced.

Useful Information

As we are about to begin a short holiday, I have only sent home Maths and Vocabulary homework this week.

The answers for the Maths homework will be emailed to parents. If you would prefer printed copies of the answers in future, please do let me know and I will happily arrange this.

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

It has been so lovely meeting those of you who have been able to attend Parent teacher conferences this week, and I am really looking forward to seeing more of you in Week 6. There is still one appointment slot available, and parents who have not been able to attend are always very welcome to come in for a chat at any time if they would like to. 

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Decimals and Percentages

Spr.3.5 – Thousandths as fractions

Spr.3.6 – Thousandths as decimals

Spr.3.7 – Thousandths on a place value chart

Spr.3.8 – Order and compare decimals (same number of decimal places)

Spr.3.9 – Order and compare any decimals with up to 3 decimal places

Year 6

Decimals & Fractions, decimals and percentages

Spr.3.9 – Multiply and divide decimals in context

Decimals – End of Unit Assessment

Spr.4.1 – Decimal and fraction equivalents

Spr.4.2 – Fractions as division

Spr.4.3 – Understand percentages

Literacy 

This week in Literacy, the students wrote their persuasive letters to Spring, using the learning from last week, and they did a fantastic job including all the key elements in their writing. We then explored ways to compare the giant at the start of the story with how he changes by the end. The students went on a treasure hunt to find a wide range of adjectives to describe the giant, deciding whether each word had a positive or negative meaning. They used these adjectives to write comparisons, practising how a semicolon can be used in place of words such as but or however. Using a semicolon can really elevate a piece of writing, and it has been lovely to already see some appearing in the students’ homework. We also finished reading our story and discussed who the little boy the giant helps might represent. We have all really enjoyed reading this text and are excited to see what our next focus story will be.

IPC

We started the week in IPC by completing our informative posters about the eye and the ear, and they looked incredible. To ensure the students really understood the content, they answered questions about their own posters using only the information they had included, such as Which part of the ear helps us hear sounds?, What is the job of the retina? and How do sound vibrations travel through the ear? Later in the week, each group presented their findings to the rest of the class, allowing everyone to learn about both the eye and the ear. As a result, all students now have a much stronger understanding of what the eye and ear do and how they help us to see and hear. The students did fabulously and really impressed me with their scientific knowledge and teamwork. I was especially pleased to see some students making a real effort to support and help others during the tasks and presentations.

Useful Information

Our Lunar New Year celebrations will be taking place on Wednesday, and parents are very welcome to join in the fun. Please keep an eye out for more details in the UHIS newsletter.

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

A new week and a brand new IPC unit is underway! Despite the cold weather, our first science sessions have been thoroughly enjoyable, and I have been so impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and level of engagement.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Fractions B and Decimals and Percentages

Fractions B End of Unit Test

Spr.3.1 – Decimals up to 2 decimal places

Spr.3.2 – Equivalent fractions and decimals (tenths)

Spr.3.3 – Equivalent fractions and decimals (hundredths)

Spr.3.4 – Equivalent fractions and decimals

Year 6

Decimals

Spr.3.4 – Add and subtract decimals

Spr.3.5 – Multiply by 10, 100 and 1,000

Spr.3.6 – Divide by 10, 100 and 1,000

Spr.3.7 – Multiply decimals by integers

Spr.3.8 – Divide decimals by integers

Literacy 

This week in Literacy, we continued our work on The Selfish Giant through a focus on persuasive writing. The children were introduced to personification, exploring how the seasons in the story are presented as characters with human qualities.

Building on this, the children practised using the subjunctive and key punctuation, including quotation marks and semicolons, to improve the formality and flow of their writing. They applied these skills by writing a persuasive letter to the principal, asking for a second fantasy playground. The children used imaginative ideas such as bouncy castles and giant slides while focusing on clear sentence structure and accurate punctuation.

Throughout the week, we also reinforced the importance of writing in full sentences so that ideas were clearly expressed and made sense independently.

This learning will support next week’s task, where the children will write a persuasive letter to Spring, asking it to return to the garden.

IPC

This week, we began our new IPC unit, Look, Hear, with a fun and hands-on entry point designed to get the children thinking about how their senses work. Through practical activities and discussion, pupils explored what happens when one sense is limited and how we rely on our eyes and ears to understand the world around us.

The children then explored optical illusions and visual tricks, discussing how the eyes and brain work together and why what we see is not always an accurate reflection of reality. This helped pupils to understand that seeing involves both the eyes and the brain interpreting information.

Following this, pupils began their science learning about the structure and function of the human ear and eye. Working in groups, they started researching the different parts, including the outer, middle, and inner ear, as well as the key parts of the eye. They began creating structured posters with labelled diagrams and explanations of each part’s role, which they will continue and complete next week.

Useful Information

Parent Teacher Conferences will take place in Weeks 5 and 6. Here is the link to the Google Form if you have not already signed up. There are still a few appointment slots available in Week 6. I really value the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your child’s progress. If there is not a time available that suits your schedule, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

It has been a chilly week, but the children kept busy with their learning and really enjoyed warming up by baking and tasting the bread they made for their IPC Exit Point.

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Fractions B

Spr.2.4 – Calculate a fraction of a quantity

Spr.2.5 – Fraction of an amount

Spr.2.6 – Find the whole

Spr.2.6 – Find the whole (continued)

Spr.2.7 – Use fractions as operators

Year 6

Ratio & Decimals

Spr.2.10 – Solve problems with two unknowns

End of Unit Assessment

Spr.3.1 – Place value within 1

Spr.3.2 – Place value – integers and decimals

Spr.3.3 – Round decimals

Literacy 

We began the week by looking at persuasive writing and explored how the subjunctive form can be used to create a more formal and convincing tone. The children practised using sentences such as If he were kinder and If the Giant were to listen, and applied this when writing to persuade the Giant to let the children back into his garden. We discussed how this choice of language helps writing sound more thoughtful and polite, which is especially important in persuasive texts.

While reviewing recent homework, I noticed that some answers were not being written in full sentences. As a result, we spent time focusing on how to answer questions using full sentences that make sense on their own without needing the question. The children practised improving short or unclear answers and discussed why this skill is important for written work, homework tasks, and future comprehension activities.

Later in the week, the children worked collaboratively in pairs to make predictions about the rest of the story. They shared ideas, listened to one another, and agreed on how the story might continue before presenting their predictions as comic strips, combining both written and visual storytelling.

IPC

This week in IPC, the children carried out a materials experiment, where they tested and compared a range of materials to explore their properties. They investigated which materials were conductors and which were insulators, carefully recording their results and using scientific vocabulary to explain how and why different materials behaved in different ways.

We also completed our Bake It exit point, which brought together all of the science learning from the unit. The children tested and compared four different bread recipes to investigate which ingredients and conditions help bread bake successfully. They explored a normal bread recipe, bread made with added sugar, bread made with no yeast, and bread made using cold water.

The children observed how each change affected the bread, focusing on how well it rose, the texture of the bread, and its overall appearance. They noticed that bread without yeast did not rise in the same way, and that cold water affected how well the yeast worked. The bread with added sugar allowed children to discuss whether sugar is needed in bread making and how yeast gets its energy. Through group discussion, the children used evidence from their observations to explain which bread baked the best and why, linking their ideas back to yeast activity, temperature, and ingredient choice.

This practical session encouraged the children to think like scientists, make comparisons, and use their scientific knowledge to justify their conclusions.

Useful Information

Parent Teacher Conferences will take place in Weeks 5 and 6. Please keep an eye out for an email later this week containing a Google Form, where you will be able to book an appointment. I really value the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your child’s progress. If there is not a time available that suits your schedule, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

Our class have had a ball continuing with our science experiments. I can almost smell the bread we will make in the coming weeks!

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Multiplication and Division and Fractions B

Spr.1.11 – Solve problems with multiplication and division

End of unit assessment

Spr.2.1 – Multiply a unit fraction by an integer

Spr.2.2 – Multiply a non-unit fraction by an integer

Spr.2.3 – Multiply a mixed number by an integer

Year 6

Ratio

Spr.2.5 – Formulae

Spr.2.6 – Form equations

Spr.2.7 – Solve 1-equations

Spr.2.8 – Solve 2-equations

Spr.2.9 – Find pairs of values

Literacy 

This week in Literacy, we continued our work on The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. The children explored the story from the Giant’s point of view and focused on understanding his thoughts and feelings when he returned to his garden.

We looked at how writers use first-person voice, powerful verbs, and descriptive language to show emotion. Through discussion and role play, the children stepped into the Giant’s shoes and thought carefully about how he might react to what he sees.

The children then planned and began writing a monologue from the Giant’s perspective, using short dramatic sentences and vivid vocabulary to bring his voice to life.

IPC

This week in IPC, the children continued our Bake It unit by carrying out a series of practical science investigations. They investigated what happens when different ingredients are mixed together and how changing conditions can affect the outcome.

The children explored dissolving by testing a range of solids in water and observing which materials dissolved well and which did not dissolve well. They compared mixtures made with warm and cold water and discussed why temperature made a difference. Through these experiments, the children learned that some solids, such as sugar, can dissolve in water, while others cannot.

As part of the investigations, the children changed one variable at a time and recorded their observations carefully. They were introduced to and began using key scientific vocabulary, including solute, solvent, solution, dissolve, and temperature, to explain what they observed. The children also discussed why ingredients did not disappear when they dissolved and what was happening at a particle level.

Useful Information

To help your child stay comfortable during PE, please make sure they come to school in appropriate clothing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Appropriate PE clothing
• T shirt
• Tracksuit bottoms
• Leggings
• Shorts
• Trainers
• Hoody that can be removed easily
• Hair tie for long hair

Inappropriate PE clothing
• Jeans or denim shorts
• Skirts or dresses
• Boots, sandals, or flip flops
• Jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings
• Tight or restrictive clothing

Have a lovely weekend! ☺️

Hello everyone!

What a great first week it has been. It has been so lovely to see everyone again, and the children all seem very well rested. I have been very impressed with their positive attitude and enthusiasm this week. The first week back after a long break can be challenging, but they all took it in their stride.

Here is what Year 5/6 have been up to this week:

Maths

Year 5

Multiplication and Division

Review of the unit so far

Spr.1.8 – Divide a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number

Spr.1.9 – Divide with remainders

Spr.1.10 – Efficient division

Year 6

Ratio

Spr.2.1 – 1 Step function machines

Spr.2.2 – 2 Step function machines

Spr.2.3 – Form expressions

Spr.2.4 – Substitution

IPC

This week in IPC, we began our new unit Bake It by exploring bread through a scientific lens. The children investigated a range of different breads using their senses, describing the taste, texture, smell, and appearance. This helped them build precise vocabulary and begin thinking like scientists by observing carefully and comparing results.

A key focus this week was our science investigations into bread making, particularly the role of yeast. The children learned that yeast is a living organism and that it is responsible for helping bread rise. Before starting the experiments, pupils made predictions about what might happen when yeast was mixed with water and sugar, and discussed why certain conditions might make a difference.

During the investigation, different conditions were tested to help the children understand what yeast needs in order to work effectively. By changing the temperature of the water and whether sugar was present, pupils were able to observe which combinations produced the most bubbles and gas. This helped them see that yeast works best in warm conditions and needs sugar as a food source to produce gas.

The children carefully observed the changes over time, noting how bubbles formed and later slowed down. They learned that the gas produced by yeast is what creates air pockets in bread, making it rise, and that the reaction eventually stops when the yeast runs out of food or the conditions are no longer suitable.

Throughout the experiments, pupils worked collaboratively, recorded observations, discussed results, and reflected on what the outcomes told them. These investigations helped deepen their understanding of how ingredients behave when combined and introduced key scientific ideas such as fair testing, changing variables, and cause and effect.

Literacy

In Literacy, we began our new unit based on The Selfish Giant. The children were introduced to the setting and themes of the story through close reading and discussion, focusing on how authors use descriptive language to create atmosphere. We explored how the garden is described and how it changes over time.

A key focus has been on using expanded noun phrases, precise adjectives, and a range of sentence structures to add detail and interest to writing. The children identified these features within the text and applied them when developing their own work.

They created their own descriptions of a fantasy garden, using rich vocabulary and carefully structured sentences to bring their settings to life.

Useful Information

To help your child stay comfortable during PE, please make sure they come to school in appropriate clothing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Appropriate PE clothing
• T shirt
• Tracksuit bottoms
• Leggings
• Shorts
• Trainers
• Hoody that can be removed easily
• Hair tie for long hair

Inappropriate PE clothing
• Jeans or denim shorts
• Skirts or dresses
• Boots, sandals, or flip flops
• Jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings
• Tight or restrictive clothing

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

It has been such a joy teaching Year 5/6 this term. The energy, hard work and enthusiasm the students bring into the classroom each day truly make teaching them a delight, and I cannot wait to see what exciting things await us next term.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Winter Break, and I hope the students have a great time and manage to get lots of rest ready for the new term to start.

Wishing you all a fantastic holiday season. See you in 2026!

Hello everyone!

Just one more week until we can all have a well deserved break. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Winter Show on Wednesday!

Here is what we have been up to this week:

Maths

All Year 5 and 6 students have now completed their End of Term Maths Assessments. They all worked incredibly hard and should feel very proud of what they have achieved.

I will continue to send home the Reasoning and Problem Solving booklets for each unit, as I believe these are genuinely useful resources to support their learning outside the classroom. Even just fifteen minutes of Maths practice each evening can help keep the day’s learning fresh and make a real difference to their confidence and understanding.

Year 5

Multiplication and Division

Spr.1.1 – Multiply up to a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number

Spr.1.2 – Multiply a 2-digit number by a 2-digit number (area model)

Spr.1.3 – Multiply a 2-digit number by a 2-digit number

Spr.1.4 – Multiply a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number

Year 6

Ratio

Spr.2.5 – Scale drawing

Spr.2.6 – Use scale factors

Spr.2.7 – Similar shapes

Spr.2.8 – Ratio problems

Spr.2.9 – Proportion problems

Literacy 

In Literacy this week, students were placed into pairs and assigned one of four endangered animals to investigate: the orangutan, the giant panda, the hawksbill turtle, or the black rhino. Their task was to research their animal in depth and gather information for a four section leaflet focusing on habitat, diet, behaviour, and dangers and survival. Once their research was complete, the children used Canva to design their own professional looking leaflets, making sure to include the key grammar features we have been learning this term such as modal verbs, adverbs for possibility, and parenthesis.

The level of teamwork shown was fantastic. Each pair organised their ideas clearly, divided roles sensibly, and supported one another as they created detailed and engaging information texts. The finished leaflets are impressive, informative, and show just how much their writing skills have grown this term.

IPC

This week the students completed their comic book retellings of Romulus and Remus, and the results are absolutely fantastic. Each comic shows real creativity, a strong grasp of the story, and a growing confidence in presenting information visually.

We then moved on to the final ancient civilisation of this unit: the Vikings. To introduce this topic, the students took part in a lively relay style activity designed to test both their memory and teamwork skills. In the corridor were statements about the Vikings: some factual and some common myths. Students had to memorise their assigned statements, relay them back to their teams, and work together to decide whether each one was a fact or a myth. There were a few surprises along the way, which led to brilliant discussion about how certain misconceptions become popular and why people might have believed them in the past.

To consolidate their learning, students created informative posters comparing Viking myths and truths. Their posters aim to educate others and show just how much they already understand about separating historical fact from fiction.

Useful Information

• Please note that even though the weather is getting colder, we will continue to have PE lessons outside unless conditions become too cold or unsafe. Being outdoors gives us far more space, which means the students can enjoy a wider range of activities, including football and other team games.

To help your child stay comfortable during PE, please make sure they come to school in appropriate clothing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The school hoodie is ideal for outdoor sessions as it is warm enough for the cooler weather but easy to remove if they get too hot once they start running around.

• For the Winter Show this year, Year 5/6 are going to be performing the Song: Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin Stevens. We have already practiced singing it in class, but I would like the students to memorise the words at home please. Here is a link to the Youtube Karaoke version of the song: 

Merry Christmas Everyone

See you on Wednesday! ☺️