Dear Parents and Carers,

                                               

Welcome to the second half of the Spring Term! The mornings are now that little less gloomy and some of the plants in the new raised beds outside the classroom are beginning to come into flower (thank you for planting them, Year 6 – they look great!).

 

There is a lot to look forward to this term (not least of all our London trip in just a few weeks) and it is also a really important term as we gear up towards towards the KS2 SATs. Please do keep an eye on the Class Dojo page as I will be posting updates and important information regarding both of these events in the upcoming weeks.

 

Spring 2 Curriculum

 

Our topic for this half term is based around the Maya Civilisation. Key areas of enquiry are as follows:

• The challenges of settling in the rainforest
• Comparing and contrasting Anglo-Saxon and Maya houses
• The importance of Maya gods and goddesses
• The layout and features of Mayan cities
• The reasons for the decline of the Maya cities

 

We are also going to be completing a lot of focussed work in reading, grammar and maths, as well as continuing to develop our writing skills. For additional subject-specific detail about this half-term’s curriculum, please see the separate project map.

 

London

I’m sure that it has not escaped your attention that our London residential is fast approaching! The children have done a fabulous job of fundraising (with your support), have made their meal choices and know their room allocations. Kit lists and other information will be coming out to you in the coming weeks; please do let me know, or contact the school office, if you have any queries.

 

SATs

SATs are statutory national curriculum tests that measure children's academic development and school performance. 2025 SATs week is Monday 12th May – Thursday 15th May. Over this period, the children will sit 6 different tests, with English taking place at the beginning of the week and maths at the end. The government says SATs are not about 'passing' or 'failing' but are instead used to show whether your child is working above, below or at the 'expected standard' for Year 6. Whilst we obviously want the children to fully represent their abilities, we believe that Year 6 should be about much more than the tests, and do not want the children to worry unnecessarily about them. We will be carrying out practise activities to familiarise the children with the style and content of the papers, and all we ask is that each child does their very best! The outcomes of the SATs will be shared with you directly, and need not be shared with the children unless you would like to.

 

As always, please get in touch if you need anything or have any questions.  

 

I remain grateful for your continued support.

 

With Kind Regards,

 

Miss Donna Harris