Year 5 Science - Human Model of the Solar System
This term, Year 5 has been heading out of this world to study Earth and Space! We started by looking at two very big words: Geocentric and Heliocentric. Historically, people thought the Earth was the centre of everything (Geocentric). But we discovered that we actually live in a Heliocentric system, where the Sun is the boss and everything orbits around it! To see how this worked, we turned ourselves into a Human Solar System. We had to orbit the Sun while spinning on our own axes at the same time! It was tricky work, especially for our Venus, who had to spin in the opposite direction to everyone else because it rotates 'backwards' compared to Earth! After all that spinning, we sat down to become researchers, creating fact files about amazing celestial bodies like Mars, Jupiter, and the Sun.
Year 5 Maths - Using Place Value Counters to Help with Multiplication
This week, Year 5 began mastering the complex process of long multiplication. To build a strong foundation, we first revisited short multiplication (4 digits by 1 digit), using place value counters and repeated addition to visualize the concept. Once this was secured, the children successfully transitioned to the formal written method. Feeling confident, they progressed to multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers—initially using the grid method to see the products before moving on to the more abstract formal column method.
Spring Clubs are back and they’re brilliant!
Our Spring 2026 after-school clubs are ready to go and they are packed with fun, creativity, and energy. This term children can get stuck into Kurling, Dodgeball, Lego Challenge, Art Club, Computing, Book Club, and our brand new Geography Explorers Club. Whether they love building, coding, creating, reading, discovering the world, or burning off energy, there’s something to get excited about. Clubs run from 3.20pm–4.00pm, with collection from the front entrance. Most clubs cost £4.00 for the full 10-week block, not per week, and some clubs are free. Spaces are limited, so don’t wait too long. Clubs start WC 12/1/26, with the final week WC 23/3/26. All bookings are through ParentPay. After-school fun starts here – let’s make it a great term!
Year 5 Class Assembly
This week kicked off with a brilliant bang as Year 5 proudly presented their Class Assembly on Monday morning to the whole school and some of our delighted parents. Every child had a key role, either speaking passionately about the exciting learning covered this term, or actively demonstrating their new skills. We saw amazing showcases of their work, including real-life experiments from Science, moving mechanisms from Design and Technology, dynamic routines from P.E., and interactive creations from Computing. Every member of Year 5 read clearly, spoke with confidence, and promoted the fantastic work happening in our classroom with immense pride.
Important Update: Breakfast Club Bookings Moving to Arbor!
????️ Important Update: Breakfast Club Bookings Moving to Arbor! Dear Parents/Guardians, We are excited to announce that all bookings for Breakfast Club will be moving to the Arbor platform immediately after the Christmas break! This change will make the booking process much smoother and more efficient for everyone. Key Information: Bookings Now Open: The full Spring Term is now available to book through Arbor. Limited Spaces: Please note that we have a limited number of spaces available for Breakfast Club. We strongly encourage you to log in and book your required sessions as quickly as possible to secure your child's spot! ???? Getting Started with Arbor If you are not yet familiar with the system, please take some time over the holiday period to familiarise yourself with the Arbor platform. For easy access, please remember that the Arbor App is available to download on both iOS and Android devices. ⚠️ Login Support Existing Users: If you have used Arbor before but are having trouble logging in, you can simply click the 'Forgot Password' link to regain access. Need Help? If you encounter any problems logging into your account, please do not hesitate to contact me during the holiday period for assistance. We appreciate your cooperation as we transition to this new booking system.
Year 5 PE - Musical Dodgeball!
This week, Year 5's PE lesson culminated in an energetic and strategic game of Musical Dodgeball. This fun activity required students to actively use all the throwing, dodging, and teamwork skills developed in previous sessions. The core game played as usual when the music was on, but when the music suddenly stopped, the player holding the ball was swiftly eliminated. This twist kept students highly engaged and challenged them to maintain situational awareness right up until the final, victorious player was crowned.
Year 5 Geography - Using Digital and Ordnance Survey Maps
This week in Geography, Year 5 engaged in a detailed comparative study of our local area using both digital maps and Ordnance Survey (OS) maps. We began our search using Google Maps to identify key human features in our locality, compiling a comprehensive list of tourist spots, leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, transport hubs, and hotels. Students then transferred these analytical skills to the OS maps of Darwen, using the specific OS symbols key to locate and interpret a wide variety of different points of interest, finding the activity highly rewarding and a lot of fun!
School Council- PSHE- Spreading Christmas Cheer in the Community
Our school council members took on a wonderfully heartwarming project this week by organizing and performing a special nativity play exclusively for the residents of a local nursing home. The pupils demonstrated incredible dedication, rehearsing their roles as Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels to bring the traditional story to life. The performance was met with warm applause and generated a tangible sense of festive cheer among the residents, providing a lovely inter-generational connection. Following the play, the children personally greeted the residents, shared handmade cards, and offered sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, reinforcing the school's commitment to community spirit and kindness during the holiday season.
Year 5 P.E. - Dodgeball
This week in P.E., Year 5 engaged in the fast-paced, strategic game of dodgeball. Students began by practising core skills—such as throwing accuracy and evasive movements—in small team drills. This focus on technique was crucial before they applied their learning in an energetic, whole-class game. The lesson was highly successful, allowing pupils to develop teamwork and quick thinking while having a great deal of fun!
Year 5 - Parliament Week Activities
Year 5 celebrated UK Parliament Week last Friday by diving into the world of democracy and governance. After watching informative videos detailing the workings of Parliament, students demonstrated their understanding by creating fantastic acrostic poems spelling out 'P-A-R-L-I-A-M-E-N-T'. Putting their learning into immediate action, the class held important votes for their new school house team names and selected classroom activities. Crucially, they actively practised the art of persuasion during these debates, linking directly to the persuasive writing skills they are currently mastering in their English lessons.
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Year 5 Music - Learning about Blues Music
This week, Year 5 began their new music unit, diving straight into the origins and unique sounds of The Blues. Students discovered the powerful historical and emotional context of this genre, learning how The Blues developed in the Deep South of America and how it was used to express feelings of sadness, hardship, and hope. We focused on listening skills, identifying the genre's key features, such as the frequent use of the call and response structure and the distinctive twelve-bar chord progression. The children enthusiastically explored the concept of the blue note (a slightly flattened note that gives the music its emotional depth) and began to understand how simple musical elements can communicate deep feelings. This engaging introduction sets the stage for future lessons, where Year 5 will develop their understanding of chord structures and even begin composing their own blues pieces.
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