Mr Winchester (Class Teacher)
Mrs Chan and Mrs Read (Support Staff)
Year 6 Homework Grid – Autumn 2025 Year 6 Reading Spine – 2025-26- Year 6 Reading Intent (190.52KB)
- Year 6 Meet the Teacher (10.55MB)
- Year 6 Intent (190.15KB)
Autumn 2025
We are really pleased to say that Year 6 have settled in brilliantly and made a fantastic start to the year! Our classroom has been full of energy and enthusiasm as everyone gets stuck into their learning. In Reading, we have been enjoying David Almond’s Skellig. The story has lots of interesting twists and events that happen in a non-chronological order, which keeps us wanting to read more. We have been working on inference – using clues in the text to understand what the author is suggesting. We have also been practising reading out loud with expression so that we show the meaning and feelings behind the words. In English, we have been exploring how writers build suspense. We have looked closely at different texts to spot the techniques authors use to create tension and keep the reader hooked. Now, our Year 6 writers are beginning to use these ideas in their own non-chronological reports on an invented planet that will keep their readers on the edge of their seats! In Maths, we began with place value and have now moved on to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. We have explored common factors and multiples, rules of divisibility, square and cube numbers, and both long and short division. We have especially enjoyed discussing which methods are the most efficient and explaining our reasoning. In Science, we have been learning all about the Habitats and Living Things as well as Electricity. This has led to lots of great questions and interesting discussions, improving our knowledge throughout. In RE, we have been thinking about the question: “What is the best way for a Muslim to show commitment to God?” We have talked about what commitment means, why it can sometimes be difficult, and how the Five Pillars of Islam guide the lives of Muslims. The children have shared thoughtful ideas and made links to their own experiences. This term in History, we are learning about the British Empire. We have been exploring how it grew, the role of the East India Company, and how the Empire eventually declined. The children have shown maturity when discussing important and sometimes sensitive events from the past. In Art, we have been studying Pablo Picasso and the Cubist movement. The children have created their own Cubist self-portraits, showing amazing creativity and imagination. In Computing, we have used Code.org to focus on algorithms and code that makes games come alive. We have also been able to create our own Dance Party which has given us inspiration for our own PE Dance production! We are incredibly proud of the effort shown during the Pupil Parliament and House Captain elections. Year 6 have four parliament members: a Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister and two MPs. Voting days were full of persuasive speeches and even some creative campaigning! Everyone supported each other brilliantly, and we know our elected leaders will do a great job representing our school. As we look ahead to our class assembly, Christingle and finishing our Open Mornings, it’s clear we have not only had a busy start to the year, but an even busier finish in the lead up to Christmas. We are confident that Year 6 will rise to every challenge and continue to shine.Summer 2025
It’s fair to say that Year 6 go from strength to strength! Our reading text this term has been Michelle Magorian’s ’Goodnight Mr Tom’. This text has already taken us on a rollercoaster of emotions: Willie’s wretchedness when remembering his life in London, the joy he feels as he discovers what life can be like, cheering on Mr Oakley as he encourages Willie, and re-discovers a little bit of life himself.
As we head into the swing of SATs preparation, our statistics topic in Maths included constructing our own dual bar charts, reading and interpreting pie charts (including those that use percentages) and how to calculate the mean. As part of geometry, we revisited angles and learned how to calculate vertically opposite angles, angles in a triangle and the properties of circles. We rounded off with the nets of 3D shapes. Continuing into position and direction, our mathematicians learned how to read and plot points in four quadrants, to solve problems with coordinates and finished with a refresh on reflection and translation.
As with many Year 6 cohorts up and down the country, this term has inevitably focused on KS2 SATs. The children’s eagerness to do their best has shone through and that is all we can ask. During SATs week, we’ll start each day at 8:10am with a hearty breakfast of fruit and pastries – a chance to laugh away any last-minute nerves before tackling the morning’s tests. During the afternoons, children will have their hands full with PE and our Art topic: chair design. As in keeping with tradition, after the hard work comes a treat (in our case – pizza!). Year 6 will not have long to rest though – after half-term, we’re off on our residential to JCA Condover Hall in Shropshire, swiftly followed by preparations for our end of year show!
In English, Year 6 have been thinking about how to demonstrate changes in formality through newspaper writing. Children have been show-casing their writing using all the skills they have learned: fronted adverbials, synonyms, dialogue, varying sentence length, purposeful repetition, pronouns and conjunctions – all designed to aid cohesion (the ‘secret strings’ that helps stories to flow).
In the Science topic ‘Evolution’, children will be thinking about which of our features are inherited and how living beings adapt to their environment, leading to evolution. Our History topic ‘World War Two’ has seen us explore which countries and leaders were involved in the war, important events, the effect of rationing, how the lives of women changed greatly and the lasting effects of the war on our world.
Spring 2025
Year 6 have continued their amazing start and have been super busy!
The children have been reading Kiran Milwood Hargrave’s ‘The Island at the End of Everything’ in their Reading lessons. This is a thought-provoking and heart-rending tale describing friendship, equality and how we treat those who are different. This has complemented our English writing unit: discussion texts. As Year 6 become more skilled writers, they’re learning to compose a balanced argument – using synonymous phrases, purposeful repetition and pronouns to aid cohesion, so that they can deftly present both sides of an argument.
At the very start of the term our Maths topic focussed on ratio and proportion. Children learned to work systematically around a shape to ensure that all sides were enlarged by the same scale factor. Our mathematicians were finally able to apply their knowledge of ratio and proportion to adapt recipes. Year 6 are already chomping at the bit for the next topic – algebra!
In Science topic ‘Classification’, children have been classifying livings things using Carl Linnaeus’ system of classification. They will be carrying out their own experiments to find out how micro-organisms (yeast) react with different substances.
Our RE topic is based on the Islamic belief in life after death. Children will explore themes of ‘forever’, ‘eternity’ and ‘motivation’, whilst relating these ideas to their own worldview.
Year 6 are ‘Exploring Identity’ in Art. It is inspired by African artists who use the theme of ‘identity’ in their work. Children will explore their own sense of self and identity to create their layered self-portraits.
We will be exploring the Kingdom of Benin for History this term. Year 6 will be finding out about this empire, its Golden Age and links to the British Empire.
In our Computing lessons, children will become publishers! They will work in teams to compile their very own class magazine detailing their experiences at Manland to date. Sections will include: most likely to …, highlights, favourite memories, teachers of past and present and an interview with the Headteacher! Our budding journalists will collate and compile their own content, decide on layout and pictures for their pages.
