Welcome to Year 5
Miss Le Baigue, Mrs Murdoch and Miss Saunders warmly welcome you to Year 5 at Christ Church Junior School!
We would like to introduce you to Year 5, explain how the year group is organised and highlight some of the exciting learning opportunities and expectations for the year ahead.
- Mrs A Murdoch – Merian Class Teacher
- Mrs K Reynolds – Teaching Assistant, Merian Class
- Mrs V Misi – Teaching Assistant, Merian Class
- Miss N Le Baigue – Banksy Class Teacher
- Miss G Saunders – Banksy Class Teacher
- Mrs M Piper – Teaching Assistant, Banksy Class
Curriculum Subjects
English
English is taught through a range of engaging themes and is often centred around a high-quality book. Children will develop their skills in:
- Reading and comprehension
- Writing: creative and transactional
- Spelling
- Grammar, punctuation and vocabulary
- Speaking and listening
- Handwriting
- Research skills
We encourage all children to read for a minimum of 15 minutes each evening. Please support your child by listening to them read regularly and discussing their reading with them. Children should record their reading in their reading record, which should go home to be signed by an adult at home and returned to school each day.
Maths
In Year 5, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme of learning, which follows a mastery approach and is designed to develop children’s understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills. Learning is carefully sequenced in small steps, allowing children to develop secure mathematical understanding and make connections between different areas of mathematics. Throughout the year, children will develop their understanding across a broad range of mathematical areas, including:
- Place value and numbers up to 1,000,000
- Addition and subtraction
- Multiplication and division, including formal written methods
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Statistics
- Geometry, including properties of shapes and angles
- Position and direction
- Measurement, including converting units, perimeter, area and volume
- Negative numbers
- Decimals and money
- Time
Children will have regular opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge to practical and problem-solving situations. We place a strong emphasis on mathematical vocabulary, explaining methods, reasoning and developing confidence when tackling unfamiliar problems.
We also place great importance on times-table fluency. Children should be confident with all multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12. Regular practice at home will help children develop the quick recall they need to access more challenging mathematical learning.
Year 5 Themes
Our Year 5 curriculum is enriched through a range of exciting themes:
- Anglo-Saxons
- Vikings
- Biomes and Ecosystems
- The United States
- Rivers
These themes provide opportunities for children to make connections between subjects and apply their learning in meaningful contexts.
Other Curriculum Areas
Alongside English and Maths, children will also enjoy learning in:
- Science
- French
- Computing
- Physical Education (PE)
- Art
- Design and Technology, including 3D printing
- PSHE
- Music
Science is an important part of our Year 5 curriculum. Topics include Forces, Materials, Earth and Space, Animals and their Habitats, and Animals including Humans.
PE Kit
PE takes place regularly during the week, so PE kits should be kept in school. Your child will need:
- White PE T-shirt
- Black or navy shorts
- Dark tracksuit bottoms
- Trainers
- Plimsolls
- A warm top for colder weather
For safety reasons, jewellery should not be worn during PE. If your child wears earrings, please ensure they are able to remove them independently or provide suitable ear tape if they cannot be removed.
Long hair should also be tied back for PE.
Please remember to send your child to school with a named water bottle each day.
School Trips and Visits
Throughout the year, we will plan a variety of educational visits and experiences, both locally and further afield. These trips provide valuable opportunities for children to extend their learning beyond the classroom and create memorable experiences.
A consent form is completed at the beginning of the school year to cover local trips and visits that are within walking distance. One of the highlights of the year is our visit to the Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School musicals, which are always much-loved by both children and staff.
Our Expectations
In Year 5, we want every child to develop a responsible, mature and positive attitude towards their learning and towards others.
We encourage children to:
- Always try their best
- Take pride in their work
- Become increasingly independent learners
- Work cooperatively with others
- Show kindness, respect and consideration
- Take responsibility for their actions and choices
- Persevere when learning is challenging
We aim to create a positive learning environment where effort, progress, excellent work and positive behaviour are recognised and celebrated.
Where behaviour does not meet our expectations, we will work with children to help them understand the impact of their choices and make positive changes.
Celebrating Success
We love celebrating the achievements and successes of our Year 5 children!
Each week, class teachers choose a Star of the Week from their class. These children are congratulated during our Celebration Assembly for demonstrating qualities such as hard work, effort, kindness, perseverance or an excellent attitude to learning.
Three times a year, the school also awards children with a Care, Courtesy and Consideration trip. We look for children who consistently demonstrate these important qualities and nominate them for these special days out.
On a daily basis, children can also earn Dojo points in recognition of excellent work, effort, behaviour and a positive attitude towards school.
Working Together
We are very much looking forward to working with you and your children throughout the coming year. We value the support and partnership of parents and carers and believe that working together helps children to achieve their very best.
If you have a question, query or concern at any time, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Murdoch, Miss Le Baigue and Miss Saunders