This Term
Below you will find information about what the classes in Year 5 and 6 are learning about this term. You might also like to view our Homework page for ways that you can support learning at home.
Spring 2026
English
Our first Talk for Writing unit in the Spring term will be a non-fiction piece, based around our history topic of Crime and Punishment. Children will be building on some of their persuasive skills to convert them into letters of complaint. They will be writing letters from inmates from different points in history about their experience in a prison. Following this unit, Year 6 will move into booster groups where they will be exploring lots of different text types – focusing on the different purposes and audience of each piece. This will continue through to May. Year 5 will be exploring balanced arguments about social media.
Year 5 will be looking at fictional pieces in the second half term. Writing a story around an accident. They will carefully consider setting the scene; introducing the characters; description of the dangerous place; the disaster; the rescue/escape and the consequences of the day. Finally, they will be exploring narrative poems with the Highwayman – creating their own inspired by the rhythm of the Highwayman poem.
Maths
Year 5 will revisit the different areas of maths (place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions decimals and percentages , measure, shape, position and direction and data). They will build on the concepts and calculations previously learnt. They will focus on the methods as well as using their understanding in a variety of different contexts – exploring reasoning and problem solving.
For the first few weeks, Year 6 will be focusing of shape (2d and 3d) and ratio work. Looking at concepts and calculations around perimeter, area, volume and angles, as well as using ratio to solve problems. They be converting between different units of measure. Once Year 6 move into Booster groups, they will spend time consolidating all knowledge from previous units and preparing for the Key Stage 2 tests.
Science
Science lessons will use the learning platform Kapow in Science. For the first half term, children will be classifying animals - where they will explore the work of Carl Linnaeus. They will be able to define the term ‘organism’ and name the seven life processes of all living things; define the term ‘invertebrate’ and ‘vertebrate’ and name the vertebrate groups. We will look at the characteristics of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and compare the characteristics of the vertebrate groups. We will be describing the characteristics of worms, snails, spiders and insects and comparing the characteristics of the invertebrate groups. Finally, they will be learning about the names of the plant groups and describe the characteristics of flowering plants, ferns, mosses and conifers. As well as defining the term ‘micro-organism’ and name some examples. Working scientifically children will have the opportunity to use a classification key to group and identify organisms and make a simple classification key.
In the second half term, we will be predicting if an electrical circuit will work or not, explaining why using their knowledge of complete loops, power sources and presence of components. Using our scientific enquiry, we will describe the relationship between the number of bulbs in a circuit, the bulb brightness and the amount of resistance; we will learn that increasing the number of components increases the resistance, affecting the flow of current and energy transferred. Using what we have found out we will then the predict the relationship between voltage and bulbs to predict what will happen with buzzers and motors. Throughout the unit, we will be building electrical circuits and use a switch to control its function. We will build on our understanding through Design Technology and draw circuit diagrams using the correct symbols.
History
During the first half of the Autumn term, the children will be learning about changes in the social history aspect of crime and punishment over time since 1066 (from the Anglo-Saxons to the present) – considering the learning question: ‘How has crime and punishment changed through the ages? Each lesson will focus on answering the following questions: What is crime and punishment? How did punishments get more gruesome in medieval times? Did the Tudors torture law breakers? Were Stuart and Georgian punishments less brutal? Could I have survived in a Victorian prison? How did the police force develop through the 20th century?
The unit of work will end with an assessment task, where children can demonstrate the knowledge they have gained throughout the half term.
Geography
During the second half of the Spring term, our Geography learning will focus on settlement, answering the unit question: ‘Why does population change?’ Through this question they will explore how global population is changing; looking at what birth and death rates are and reasons why people might migrate. They will look at what factors are considered when new settlements are built and how population is impacting our environment (these will link back to our climate unit referring to deforestation). They will be using map work to look for patterns.
Computing
Computing lessons will use the learning platform Kapow. In Spring, we will be continuing our learning around data handling with the Mars Rover – focusing on the use of pixelated images and Binary codes. We will be looking at what the difference between ROM and RAM is. Children will create a pixel picture, explaining that a pixel is the smallest element of a digital image and that binary is used to code and transfer this data. They will then save a JPEG as a bitmap and recognise the difference in file size as well as explaining how pixels are used to transfer image data. They will be able to explain the ‘fetch, decode, execute’ cycle in relation to real-world situations and create a profile with a safe and suitable username and password and begin to use 3D design tools.
In the second half term, children will be looking at different types of data. They will learn why barcodes and QR codes were created and follow a QR code treasure trail. The will be able to explain how infrared can be used to transmit data and how RFID works. We will recall the use of RFID chips and describe real-world uses of RFID. Finally, they will input data and type formulas into a spreadsheet where they will sort and analyse spreadsheet data to conclude customer scenarios.
PE
In the first half term we will be following the REAL PE online platform to support our physical activity. One session will focus on gymnastic skills. In this unit, the children will learn, develop and apply all gym skills on the floor, with hand apparatus and on low apparatus through focused skill development, sequence creation and games. On our other session, the children will develop and apply their stance and footwork through focused skill development sessions, modified/non-traditional games and sports and healthy competition.
In the second half term, one session will focus on dance. Being creative, using good balance and control to music. In our second session, we will also be practising skills needed in athletic events. Children will develop and apply their jumping and landing and one leg balance through focused skill development sessions, modified/non-traditional games and sports and healthy competition.
RE
In R.E, we will spend the first half term learning about the question: How and why are Jewish festivals celebrated today? Children will be learning about different Jewish festivals and should be able to summarise ideas about Jewish festivals and how and why they are commemorated. They will have opportunities to give considered responses to how and why Jewish people follow the commandments set out in the Torah.
In the second half term, we will be learning about the question: Why are rites of passage important? They will learn about rights and responsibilities that come with growing up - comparing different rites of passage. Children will discuss their own beliefs and ideas and compare these with others. We will explore how people express their feelings and beliefs through art, music, poetry, story, drama and physical movement.
Art
Learning in Art in the second half of the spring term will be focussed on drawing and methods applied in street art – influenced by Banksy. They will learn to use various lettering styles, shape, line and space for different effects. They will experiment to use complementary and analogous colours create different effects leading to them creating name tags in the style of graffiti art and stencils influenced by the work of Banksy.
Design Technology
Our Design Technology unit will be in the first half term; it will be answering the question ‘What type of circuit will you use?’ It is an electrical systems design unit focusing on the use of technology. We will be looking at how Jonathan Ives has inspired our tech work. Children will be exploring why sirens are used; designing and making a vehicle with a working siren. They will be troubleshooting different circuits and making circuits with buzzers. In order to design their siren, children will be working with a Micro:bit. They will be using block coding to create if statements and exploring all the different sound and lights available. Once their programs have been downloaded, the Micro:bit will then be added to the vehicle they have designed and made. They will be required to accurately assemble, join and combine materials and components, using a range of methods. Will they for fill the design brief of creating a police car with a new siren?
Life Curriculum
For the spring term our Life curriculum question will be: How can the media influence people? Over the term, children will learn about media literacy: how the media, including online experiences, can affect people’s wellbeing – their thoughts, feelings and actions; that not everything should be shared online or social media; that there are rules about this, including the distribution of images and that mixed messages in the media exist (including about health, the news and different groups of people) and that these can influence opinions and decision and they will learn how digital images can be manipulated or even invented. They will learn how to be more digitally resilience – positively influencing their decision-making especially around online safety.
Music
In the first half of the term the children will use the online platform Charanga (Yu Studio) to create a theme tune to a Spooky Story. They will focus on composing, creating songs, combining melody, rhythm and chords. Our music in the second half term will be again using the online platform (Charanga) where we will be learning to play the Ukelele - playing an instrument accurately and reading music on a stave.
French
During the first half term children will be focusing their vocabulary on Time Travelling –‘ Voyager dans le temps’. Children will build on their previous skills and knowledge of topics such as numbers and dates, extending their learning to discuss significant events in French history. They will be introduced to one of the common past tenses in French, enabling them to say when they were born and provide dates of birth and death for notable French figures.
In the second half term, their unit is titled planning the summer holidays – ‘Planifier les vacances d’été’. Children will learn to use a combination of the present and near-future tenses, developing their ability to talk about both current activities and future plans. They will become familiar with holiday-related vocabulary, focusing on packing a suitcase, planning a journey, and discussing travel essentials.