Spring Term Highlights from Year 5

What a fantastic summer term it has been in Year 5! The children have worked incredibly hard and shown such enthusiasm across all areas of learning.

We have thoroughly enjoyed reading Holes this term, and it has been a real hit with the class. The children loved making predictions, discussing characters and themes, and answering a wide range of comprehension questions. Some of our reading sessions even took place under shady trees or gathered together on the carpet, helping to create a relaxed and engaging atmosphere that inspired a real love of reading. Alongside this, we have completed weekly comprehensions using unseen texts to help prepare us for the demands of SATs next year. In writing, the children have produced some excellent work. They wrote persuasive letters to Olivia Bailey, aiming to convince her to allow us a non-uniform day- we are now waiting expectantly for a response! They also created detailed survival guides for any new intake arriving at Camp Green Lake, including advice on how to deal with dangerous animals and the rather scary staff. Their creativity and attention to detail were fantastic. In maths, we covered a substantial unit on fractions, decimals and percentages, spending additional time developing a deeper understanding of decimals. The children showed great resilience and confidence as the work became more challenging.

As part of our science learning, we explored plants and growing by creating and caring for our own 'tiny gardens'. The children learned how to plant seeds, care for young plants, and even propagate new plants. They took great pride in nurturing their gardens, observing changes over time, and developing a deeper understanding of what plants need to grow and thrive. It was wonderful to see their patience, responsibility and enthusiasm during this hands-on project.

Our wider curriculum learning has been just as exciting. We welcomed a visit from the fire station, the girls attended an inspiring STEM day at Reading Girls' School, and we enjoyed weekly cooking sessions in small groups. In science, our topic Animals Including Humans was brought to life by weekly visits from our guinea pigs, which the children absolutely loved.

As we come to the end of the year, I would like to say what an absolute pleasure it has been to teach this class. They are a kind, curious and hardworking group who have embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. I am incredibly proud of how much they have grown, both academically and personally, throughout the year. They have made me laugh every day, impressed me with their creativity and resilience, and been wonderful ambassadors for our school. I wish them all a happy, restful summer and every success as they move into Year 6- I know they will continue to achieve great things.