Term 1

• Week 1: 
  

  Welcome back to St John’s!

  It has been wonderful to see so many happy, enthusiastic faces this week as we welcome the children back to school and into their new roles as the oldest pupils at St John’s.

  We have an exciting week ahead, filled with opportunities to settle in, reconnect with teachers and establish our classroom rules and expectations. The children will also be taking on some important responsibilities, including electing our new School Councillors and writing persuasive letters explaining why they believe they would make excellent prefects.

  We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead, filled with new challenges, exciting opportunities and plenty of chances for the children to shine!

• Week 2: 
  

  We have had a fantastic first full week back at St John’s, with the children settling well into their new routines and embracing the challenges of their full timetable.

  In Maths, the children are already beginning to recognise the increased expectations of the Year 6 curriculum, particularly as we explore numbers up to 10 million! In English, we have been discussing what makes a successful Year 6 writer, with a particular focus on developing sophisticated vocabulary, varied sentence structures and, importantly, the accurate use of higher-level punctuation.

  We have also embarked on our first exciting writing journey of the year, stepping back in time to World War II. The children have been putting themselves in the shoes of a young evacuee, writing diary entries that capture the thoughts, feelings and emotions of leaving London behind and travelling to the unfamiliar countryside of Devon to escape the bombing.

  It has been a brilliant start to the year, and we are already seeing the children rise to the challenges and expectations of Year 6!
  
  

  

  
  

• Week 3
  

  In English, we have been further developing our descriptive writing skills, focusing on creating vivid setting descriptions. The children have been exploring the striking contrasts between wartime London and the peaceful countryside of Devon, using comparative conjunctions to highlight the differences between these two very different environments.

  In History, we have embarked on an exciting new topic, travelling back in time to explore the fascinating world of the Ancient Greeks. We are looking forward to discovering more about their lives, achievements and lasting influence on the world today.

  Meanwhile, in Maths, we have been strengthening our understanding of addition and subtraction, using formal written methods to tackle increasingly challenging calculations. We have also been applying these skills to real-life problems involving money, helping to lay the foundations for our upcoming work on decimals.

  It has been another busy and productive week, and it is wonderful to see the children growing in confidence as they embrace the challenges of Year 6!
  
  

  

• Week 4: 
  

  We have had another busy and thought-provoking week in Year 6, with the children tackling some challenging questions and developing their reasoning skills across the curriculum.

  In English, we have been exploring the art of writing balanced arguments, encouraging the children to consider different perspectives and justify their opinions. Linking to our World War II topic, we have been debating a particularly interesting moral dilemma: should we offer help to an injured German soldier, or should we view him as the enemy? The children have been thinking carefully about both sides of the argument, considering themes of compassion, loyalty and humanity, while learning how to present their ideas in a clear and balanced way.

  In Maths, we have continued to strengthen our understanding of decimal numbers, focusing on using formal written methods to add and subtract decimals accurately and confidently.

  Meanwhile, in RE, we have been exploring the biblical story of the Fall, reflecting on the choices made by Adam and Eve and considering the question of responsibility and blame. This has sparked some thoughtful discussions as the children have shared their interpretations and considered different viewpoints.

  It has been wonderful to see the children engaging so enthusiastically with their learning, asking insightful questions and growing in confidence as they tackle the challenges of Year 6!
  

  

• Week 5: 
  

  We have had another fantastic week of learning in Year 6, with the children continuing to embrace new challenges and build on their growing knowledge and skills.

  In Maths, we have moved on to our new topic of multiplication and division, beginning by exploring factors and multiples. The children have also been putting their times table knowledge to good use, developing their understanding of scaling facts and recognising how known multiplication facts can help them solve more challenging calculations.

  In English, we have returned to descriptive writing, this time focusing on bringing characters to life through carefully chosen vocabulary and imaginative descriptions. The children have been exploring how to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind, considering how a character’s appearance, actions and personality can be revealed through their writing.

  Meanwhile, in History, we have been investigating the incredible legacy of the Ancient Greeks. The children have been discovering just how much this fascinating civilisation has influenced the world we live in today, from democracy and the Olympic Games to architecture, language and theatre. It has been wonderful to see them making connections between the ancient world and their own everyday lives.

  Another busy and rewarding week, with plenty of opportunities for the children to develop their confidence, curiosity and independence as Year 6 learners!