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Upcoming events for Year 5
Here’s what you’ve got to look forward to over the next few weeks.
INSET Days for this term are:
- Monday, 6th January
Students should not attend school on this day.
INSET Days for this term are:
- Tuesday, 22nd April
Pupils should not attend school on this day.
The first day back after the Easter holidays for pupils is Wednesday 23rd April 2025.
The first day back after half term for pupils is Monday 2nd June 2025.
Year 5 Curriculum
In English, the focus is on improving reading and writing skills. Pupils work on grammar, spelling, and punctuation, while also exploring a variety of texts such as stories, non-fiction pieces, and poetry. Writing activities include crafting essays, creative stories, and reports.
In Mathematics, pupils dive into more advanced topics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and percentages. They also explore geometry, working with shapes and angles, as well as measurement, including length, weight, and volume. A major part of the curriculum involves solving word problems and applying mathematical reasoning to everyday situations.
Science covers a wide range of topics related to the natural world. Pupils learn about plants, animals, forces, electricity, and Earth’s resources. They often engage in hands-on experiments to explore and understand scientific concepts.
In History, students study different periods of the past, such as the Tudor period. They learn to interpret timelines, examine key historical events, and discover important figures that shaped history.
Geography introduces pupils to the physical and human aspects of the world, such as landscapes, countries, climates, and populations. They also learn how to use maps and atlases to locate different places and understand geographical features.
In Art, pupils develop their creativity through drawing, painting, using clay, and other artistic activities. They may study various artists and artistic movements, trying out different techniques to express their ideas.
Physical Education (PE) encourages pupils to stay active and engage in a variety of physical activities, from sports and games to exercises that improve fitness. PE also emphasises teamwork, cooperation, and discipline in sports.
Music offers an introduction to different musical concepts, where pupils might learn to play an instrument, sing, or study music theory. They explore rhythm, melody, and the characteristics of different musical genres.
Religious Education (RE) provides an understanding of various world religions, including Christianity and Islam, among others. Pupils learn about the beliefs, practices, and traditions of these religions, fostering respect and understanding for different cultures and beliefs.
In Computing, pupils are taught the basics of digital literacy, including how computers work, coding, and using different software programs. They also focus on internet safety, learning how to navigate the online world responsibly.
At KS1 and KS2 we follow a two year sequence:
2024/2025 and 2026/2027
Autumn 1 – Textiles – batik
Autumn 2 – Painting
Spring 1 – Mechanical Systems: Pneumatics
Spring 2 – Collage
Summer 1 – Portraits, including mixed media
Summer 2 – Food Technology
2025/2026
Autumn 1 – Printing
Autumn 2 – 3D: Metal
Spring 1 – Electrical Systems
Spring 2 – Mechanica | Systems (axles and wheels)
Summer 1 – Portraits, including mixed media
Summer 2 – Structures
Each year through KS1-2 we cycle through the following units at increasing depth:
- Productivity
- Programming
- Computational Thinking
- Creativity
- Networks
- Communication / Collaboration
Reading to Learn
Once children have been carefully assessed as having met the requirements of the phonics program, they should be able to decode any age appropriate text. At this point, children move onto our ‘Paradigm Literacy and Language’ program.
The program allocates 3 weeks to ‘fiction writing’ such as stories, poetry, one week to ‘journalistic writing’ such as biographies and non chronological reports and two weeks to a ‘non fiction writing’ program in which specialist teachers across the Trust have worked together to create and provide high quality texts in The Humanities and The Sciences.
Children in Year 5 learn about the following subjects:
The living world
- Biomes
- Hot and cold climates
- Rainforests
The economic world
- Food, water and energy
- The changing economic world
- Tourism and ecotourism
- Case study: Cambridge
We cover two topics a year for History in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. In Year 5 we take an in-depth study on the Significance of the Tudors, then compare and contrast Islamic World and Medieval Christendom.
Our school uses Maths Mastery to teach the subject.
In Year 5 we cover:
- Reasoning with large whole integers
- Integer addition and subtraction
- Line graphs and times tables
- Multiplication and division
- Perimeter and area
We introduce Spanish at Upper Key Stage 2, through a system called Early Start Spanish Programme.
Autumn 1 – Rock
Autumn 2 – Big Band / Swing
Spring 1 – Piano Music
Spring 2 – Opera
Summer 1 – Indian Raga
Summer 2 – Reflect, Rewind and Replay
- Striking / Fielding (e.g. rounders, cricket)
- Gymnastics
- Invasion Games (e.g. hockey, netball, football)
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Dance
We follow a three-year cycle (see below) covering the major world religions as well as worldviews.
The programme is designed so that each previously taught religion is reviewed and comparisons are drawn between the content. Over six years, each child will have studied each identified religion/non-religion twice, studying in greater depth and making connections between religions.
Pupils are taught key substantive knowledge for each religion and worldview and each lesson is broken down into one of 3 disciplines: Theology, Philosophy and Human/Social Science.
2024-2025: Christianity and Islam
2025-2026: Judaism and Humanism
2026-2027: Hinduism and Sikhism
Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE – please contact the principal if you wish to explore this as an option.
The Paradigm primary schools follow the Jigsaw programme.
From September 2019 we have allocated 45 minutes per week to PSHE at KS1 and KS2.
- Being Me in My World
- Celebrating Difference
- Dreams and Goals
- Healthy Me
- Relationships
- Changing Me
Autumn 1 – Earth and Space
Autumn 2 – Living Things and their Habitats and Classification
Spring 1 – Rocks / Evolution, Inheritance and Fossils
Spring 2 – Forces and Magnets
Summer 1 – Properties of Materials
Summer 2 – Light and Sound
