Year 6

Welcome to Year 6

Year 6 is always an exciting year. We have our class residential to the Beacon Activity Centre every October, which provides children with many opportunities to build on their friendships, try new things, challenge themselves, become independent and enjoy being with their friends. Children take on greater responsibility in Year 6, taking the Reception children to assemblies, becoming sports leaders and playtime leaders during lunch times, setting up the hall for assemblies, collecting house points each week and leading the whole school Masses. We also take part in Junior Citizens, Bikeability, the IMPS programme, sporting festivals and, of course the post SATS treat in the summer.

Teachers

The class teachers for Year 6 are Mrs Machin (Mon, Tues, Wed am) and Miss Stanton (Wednesday pm, Thurs, Fri). Mrs Cutayar supports us as our teaching assistant also.

Curriculum

Our termly topic overviews are sent to parents via parent hub and are also available on the Learning page of the school website. These overviews summarise the learning for each subject every term.

Homework

Homework is an important part of helping children to secure and embed their learning in class. In Year 6, children are given written homework daily, to be handed in the following morning. We go through the homework together in class and address any misconceptions. All homework is revision of previous learning in class and children should spend a maximum of 30 minutes per task. By the time pupils reach Year 6, pupils are expected to be independent in taking responsibility for managing their homework. This will prepare them for when they go to secondary school also.

Monday: Reading Comprehension
Tuesday: Maths
Wednesday: Grammar
Thursday: Written spellings

In addition, children should complete 20 games of spelling shed per week in preparation for our weekly test every Thursday. Children should also complete their TT Rockstars multiplication tables assignments each week.

All children have a username and log-in for TT Rockstars and Spelling Shed stuck in their reading journals.

Reading

The most important homework is reading daily. All children have reading journals to record the books that they are reading at home. Pupils in Year 6 should write a short summary of what they have read in their reading journals four times per week. According to research, summarising acts as an immediate comprehension check, shifting children from passive readers to active thinkers. By writing down the key details from their reading, pupils not only are able to engage more deeply with the text and therefore remember more, but this is an excellent daily opportunity to practice their transcriptional skills and build writing fluency. This provides the foundations for the future when they need to confidently revise and remember what they have learnt in secondary school.

Reading journals must be brought into school every day and will be checked at least once per week. Instructions for how to complete the reading journal entries are stuck on the inside cover of the books. Pupils are expected to take pride in their reading journals and maintain the highest standards of presentation and care.

We also use PageTicker to support pupil motivation with home reading. This tool is designed to promote a love of reading and to encourage children to make book recommendations based on their reading history, level and interests.

Our PE days are Wednesdays and Fridays. Pupils must wear the St Thomas More PE kits to school on these days. No jewellery is allowed during PE lessons and earrings must be removed.

SATS

The Key Stage 2 SATs for 2027 are scheduled from Monday, May 10th to Thursday, May 13th. We will provide further information nearer the time regarding the administration of the tests. Please see the attached leaflet for parents from the Standards and Testing Agency also.

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Many of our Year 6 pupils make the Sacrament of Confirmation in Year 6. If your child is a baptised Catholic and you wish for them to receive the Sacrament, please speak to Mrs Naser or Mrs Exley so we can ensure your child is included.
The Catholic Life page on the website also has more information about preparation for the Sacraments and how this is delivered in Year 6.

Bikeability

Pupils have the opportunity to take part in Bikeability in Year 6. This year, the dates are Tuesday 29th September - Friday 2nd October. To give consent, please see the links provided in the letter that has been sent to Year 6 parents via Parent Hub. This letter is also attached below.

Contact:

Should you need to be in touch, all communication should generally be made through the school office email. However, we are also happy to receive a note from you if a child is unable to do PE or requires support with their homework.

Our main form of contact with you will continue to be Parent Hub, so please check this regularly for updates and curriculum information! The Parent Hub School Portal is designed to streamline interactions between school and home.

As always, please do ask if you have any questions at all!

Useful links to support learning at home

Reading

Reading List for Year 6

Books linked to topics list

Maths

National Numeracy Organisation

Corbett Maths for Primary Schools

TTRockstars

Nrich maths games and activities

Topmarks maths games key stage 2

iseemaths games and resources