As we move towards the end of the Autumn Term, it’s time to share with you some exciting updates and the fantastic learning our children have been involved in.

Maths

In Maths, the children been exploring a wide range of concepts that are not only essential for their development but also enjoyable! We have been strengthening their mental maths skills, helping them improve both the speed and accuracy of their calculations by encouraging them to think through problems in their heads rather than relying only on written methods.

A major focus has been on partitioning, where children break numbers into smaller, more manageable parts to support their understanding of more complex calculations. They have also been introduced to the grid method for multiplication—a visual strategy that helps them clearly see how larger numbers are multiplied.

We have begun teaching chunking as a division strategy, enabling students to split larger numbers into simpler chunks to make division feel more approachable. Alongside these methods, we’ve emphasised the importance of using inverse operations so children can check their answers confidently and independently.

In our work on telling time, the children have explored both analogue and digital clocks, learning to read and interpret times using am, pm, and the 24-hour format. This practical knowledge plays an important role in their everyday lives.

English

In English, we have been deeply engaged with the book My Name Is Not Refugee.

Alongside exploring what it means to be a refugee, children have been developing their prediction and inference skills, looking beyond the surface of the text to understand its deeper themes and emotions.

The children have analysed the key features of diary entries and written diary entries from the perspective of the refugee character, helping them form a more meaningful emotional connection to the story. They have also been learning about direct speech and how dialogue can reveal character traits, feelings, and intentions. As part of our vocabulary work, we created a class glossary, compiling key terms encountered throughout our reading.

Religious Education (RE)

In RE, we are currently exploring how and why Christians read the Bible. This inquiry includes examining who holds authority within society as well as in faith and the diverse literary forms present in the Bible: stories, poems, parables, and letters. We also explored how the Bible guides people to live their lives.

Science

In Science, we have been carrying out experiments focused on electrical circuits. Children have learned about the essential components of a circuit and how to identify whether a circuit is complete or incomplete. Our research into the life of Maria Telkes, a pioneer of solar energy, has inspired our young scientists to consider the future of sustainable power.

We also explored what affects the brightness of a light bulb, experimenting with variables such as the number of batteries, the length of wires, and different types of bulbs. Alongside this, we discussed conductors and insulators, giving students valuable hands-on experience with how electricity behaves.

Geography

In Geography, we have continued our engaging study of Fairtrade. Children have been researching different countries that produce Fairtrade goods, developing a deeper understanding of where these products come from and the journey they take before arriving in our shops.

Our discussions have explored the role of Fairtrade-certified farmers and the important work carried out by Fairtrade organisations to ensure fair and ethical practices. Learning about the value of certification in supporting responsible consumer choices has been a key element of our work, and the children have shown great interest in the real-world impact of their learning.

DT

In our DT learning, we have been exploring how torches work and even creating our own. We began by investigating how torches use electricity and batteries to produce light, linking closely to our recent work in Science. The children examined a range of different torches, thinking about their features, purpose, and design. They then planned their own torch designs before constructing their very own working models. It has been a fantastic opportunity for them to apply their scientific understanding in a practical and creative way.

Spanish

Our Spanish lessons have taken on a festive theme, with students learning vocabulary related to Christmas. This has expanded their language skills while also deepening their cultural awareness of how the holiday is celebrated across Spanish-speaking countries. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they engage with the language in such a joyful context!

PSHE

In PSHE, we have been focusing on the idea of what makes each of us different and why these differences should be celebrated. The children have explored a range of personal qualities, interests, backgrounds and experiences, recognising that these unique traits are what make our classroom community so special. Through discussion, activities and reflection, they have learned the importance of respecting others, embracing diversity and valuing the individuality of everyone around them.

Music

This half term the children have had an enormous amount of singing to do! During their weekly singing assembly with Miss Whiteside, they had rehearsed carols and then in their music lessons their have continued to rehearse for our upcoming concert next March with ‘Let’s Go Sing’.  We had the pleasure and honour of Let’s Go Sing music teachers into school to go through the concert songs in detail. We warmed our voices and faces then listened to the introduction to know when to begin singing on pitch and in time, with good singing posture.

The children performed Christmas Carols for our KS2 Carol Service and sang beautifully to their audience of parents and carers at St. Catherines Church.

The children then sang at our whole school Christingle Service St. Catherine’s Church.