Year 5 Overview
Year 5 Spring – First Half Term 2026
‘How has the legacy of the Shang Dynasty affected the modern world?’
Year Group Who’s Who (and where to find us)
The Year 5 class teachers are:
5SH – Mr Halsall (Head of Year)
5GH – Mrs G Hume
5CF – Mr. C. Fleury
5RM – Mr. R. Maskell
In addition Year 5 are supported by:
Mrs Pradhan
Miss Sullivan
Mrs Porter
Miss Amor
Mrs Palmer
Mrs Baker
Miss Schacht
What will we be learning about in school this half term?
Maths
Maths is now being taught in sets. We have three challenge sets and two support sets. All sets cover the same lessons but vary in pace, challenge and adult support. An additional half an hour will be added to our normal Friday session to focus on arithmetic skills.
This half of term our learning focus is:
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Percentages
• Geometry
Homework will be set every Friday, which may be on paper, through the SATS Companion website or as TT Rockstars challenge to participate in. We also expect children to spend time using TT Rockstars, to develop their times tables knowledge and speed, several times a week.
English
English skills will be taught in variety of ways, including specific lessons and through cross-curricular words.
In addition to the genres below we teach regular spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons and reading comprehension.
• Narrative – Quest Stories
Spelling homework is set weekly on EdShed. Children encouraged to learn given words, exploring spelling rules by playing the 5 games set, or more if they wish.
Science
Changes in Materials – Exploring reversible and irreversible reactions
Foundation Studies
We teach a range of subjects through our Creative Curriculum approach including:
• History - all aspects of the Shang Dynasty
• Computing - online safety
• Music - looping and remixing
• P.E - tennis and dance
• PSHE - E-safety. Families, friendships and safe relationships
• R.E – Places of Worship
• DT - food technology
• Art – Sculpture and 3D art installations
Please click on the homework tab on the school website for our homework policy and suggestions for creative homework tasks for this topic
We expect all the children in this year to work hard. We have high expectations and hope you will support us, you can do this by:
Organisational aspects
• Ensuring that your child is at school on time and dressed appropriately
• Make sure that your child has a PE kit which is clearly labelled
• All children may bring a healthy snack
• Encourage your child to be prepared for the school day with the correct equipment.
Educational aspects
• Ensure your child reads every single day for at least fifteen minutes, preferably to an adult
• Encourage your child to research other words that match the week’s spelling rules, as well as learning the words sent home
• Mathematics, encourage your child to practise the 4 operations (+, -, ÷, x), learn tables and use mathematical skills in everyday life, e.g. time and money.
Communication with your child’s class teacher can be made through the class email (see below). If you wish to make a longer appointment please telephone the school office and this can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and successful New Year!
The Year 5 Team
Year 5 Autumn – Second Half Term 2025
How does water shape our world?
What will we be learning about in school this half term?
Maths
Maths is now being taught in groups. All groups cover the same lessons but vary in pace, challenge and adult support.
This half of term our learning focus is:
• Multiplication and division
• Word Problems
• Graphs
Homework will be set every Friday, which may be on paper, through the MyMaths website or as TT Rockstars challenge to participate in. We also expect children to spend time using TT Rockstars, to develop their times tables knowledge and speed, several times a week.
English
English skills will be taught in variety of ways, including specific lessons and through cross-curricular words.
In addition to the genres below we teach regular spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons and reading comprehension.
• Poetry - Shape and acrostic
• Narrative – Warning story with environmental issues
• Non-fiction - Explanation texts
Science
This half term the children will be studying ‘Properties of materials’, exploring the everyday use of materials.
Foundation Studies
We teach a range of subjects through our Creative Curriculum approach including:
• Geography - To explore water on our planet and understand the water cycle
• Computing - Select, use and combine a variety of software to collect, analyse, evaluate and present data and information
• Music –playing instruments, reading musical notation
• P.E – Yoga and Tag Rugby
• PSHE – Resolving Conflict
• R.E - Beliefs
• DT – Creating a gift card with an electrical circuit
•
Art – Craft and design architecture
Please click on the homework tab on the school website for our homework policy and suggestions for creative homework tasks for this topic
We expect all the children in this year to work hard. We have high expectations and hope you will support us, you can do this by:
Organisational aspects:
• Ensuring that your child is at school on time and dressed appropriately
• Make sure that your child has a PE kit which is clearly labelled
• All children may bring a healthy snack
• Encourage your child to be prepared for the school day with the correct equipment.
Educational aspects:
• Ensure your child reads every single day for at least fifteen minutes, preferably to an adult
• Encourage your child to use EdShed and research other words that match the week’s spelling rules, as well as learning the words sent home
• Mathematics, complete the SATS Companion Activities, then encourage your child to practise the 4 operations (+, -, ÷, x), learn tables and use mathematical skills in everyday life, e.g. time and money.
Communication with your child’s class teacher can be made through the class email (see below). If you wish to make a longer appointment please telephone the school office and this can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
We have had such a positive start to the year, long may it continue!
The Year 5 Team
Year 5 - Autumn 1 Term 2025
‘Made Up Myths or Legendary Legacy - Who Were the Ancient Greeks?’
What will we be learning about in school this half term?
Maths
Maths will begin in classes for the first three weeks and move to sets in the fourth week. We have taken this gradual approach to setting for maths as the children have not experienced working in this way before and we wanted them to feel completely comfortable in their new environment first. This time also gives us a good opportunity to get to know the children and their learning requirements, to then move them into sets that suit them best.
This half of term our learning focus is:
- Place value and counting – including place value to millions
- Addition and subtraction – including column methods and problem solving
- Multiplication and division – including factors, multiples and prime numbers
Homework will be set every Friday, which may be on paper or through the MyMaths website. We also expect children to spend time using TT Rockstars, to develop their times tables knowledge and speed, several times a week.
English
English skills will be taught in a variety of ways, including specific lessons and through cross-curricular words.
In addition to the genres below we teach regular spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons and reading comprehension.
• Poetry
• Recount
• Playscripts
Spelling homework is set weekly on Edshed, with games that match the rule.
Science
This half term the children will be studying Earth and Space, exploring phases of the moon, the planets and rotation of the earth.
Foundation Studies
We teach a range of subjects through our Creative Curriculum approach including:
• DT - textiles (WOW day)
• Art - space imagery
• History – Ancient Greeks
• Computing - coding
• Music – musical notation/theory
• P.E - dodgeball and hockey
• PSHE – friendships and family
• R.E- Creation Stories
Please click on the homework tab on the school website for our homework policy and suggestions for creative homework tasks for this topic
We expect all the children in this year to work hard. We have high expectations and hope you will support us, you can do this by:
Organisational aspects
• Ensuring that your child is at school on time and dressed appropriately;
• Make sure that your child wears a PE kit on PE days which is clearly labelled;
• All children may bring a healthy snack;
• Encourage your child to be prepared for the school day with the correct equipment.
Educational aspects
• Ensure your child reads every single day for at least fifteen minutes, preferably to an adult
• Encourage your child to research other words that match the week’s spelling rules, as well as learning the words sent home
• Mathematics, encourage your child to practise the 4 operations (+, -, ÷, x), learn tables
and use mathematical skills in everyday life, eg time and money.
Communication with your child’s class teacher can be made through the class email. If you wish to make a longer appointment, please telephone the school office and this can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
The children have made such a positive start to the year already and we look forward to the year ahead with them.
The Year 5 Team