Year 5 2026-20267

Year 5 Autumn Newsletter 

Welcome to Year 5! 

We are delighted to welcome the children into Year 5 and it has been a wonderful start to the year. The children have settled in well, showing a positive and eager attitude to their learning. They are already engaging with enthusiasm and we are looking forward to all the exciting topics and events this term. 

Homework 

Homework will be set each Monday and is due back the following Monday. This will include: 

• Reading records signed by an adult a minimum of four times per week 

• Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) 

These can all be accessed through the children’s logins, which have been provided. Please also look out for any reminders or important events that may be noted on the weekly homework sheets. 

BYMT Music Teaching 

The children are very lucky to be taking part in BYMT music lessons this year. These will focus on both music technology and learning to play a musical instrument. 

Please ensure that your child has a pair of headphones in school for their music technology lessons. 

Deptford Creek Visit 

As part of our Rivers topic, the children will soon be heading to Deptford Creek. They will be putting on waders and stepping into the River Ravensbourne, exploring its features, and discovering how it has changed over time. This promises to be a hands-on and memorable experience! 

Ancient Egypt Entry Point Day 

On Friday 25th September, we will have an Entry Point Day for our Ancient Egypt topic. Children are invited to come dressed as pharaohs, mummies, archaeologists, or explorers. (Those who prefer not to dress up should attend in school uniform as usual.) 

Fun activities on the day will include: 

• Investigating Egyptian artefacts 

• Designing Egyptian headdresses 

• A special performance from Rainbow Theatre 

Christmas Carol Concert 

To round off the term, Year 5 will be taking part in our much-loved Christmas Carol Concert. The children will be performing a range of festive songs and poems, guaranteed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. This will take place in December. Further details will follow nearer the time. 

Uniform 

We are keen to continue to promote high standards both in the classroom and around school. We are delighted to see that the majority of pupils are wearing the correct school uniform. School policies, including the Uniform Policy, are available on the school website. 

We’re sure that Year 5 will be a fun, happy and successful year for everyone. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to chat with your child’s class teacher. Thank you for your continued support.  

Mrs Campbell (Head of Year 5) 

Ancient Egyptians

Rivers

SCARF

DT

Art - portraits 

Forces 

RW

Curriculum Overview for Year 5 

Autumn Term 

In Year 5 we have an exciting, enquiry-based curriculum that will enthuse and develop the children’s thinking and learning. 

Reading  

This term, the children will be developing a range of key reading skills. They will learn to discuss how a text affects the reader, identify the point of view a story is told from, and summarise or explain key points with evidence from the text. They will also practise retrieving information from different sources, distinguishing between fact and opinion, and justifying their preferences based on authors’ styles and themes. 

We will explore a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, including newspaper reports, diary entries, poetry, persuasive writing, and extracts from classic literature. Our class texts this term include The Explorer by Katherine Rundell and Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shatterly. 

Writing 

This term, Year 5’s writing will be with our reading texts so they can be fully immersed in these amazing books. They will be writing letters and narratives based on what they have read. Focusing on specific characters, they will write a biography and a persuasive job application.  

Mathematics 

This term, we will be exploring a range of maths strands. In number and place value, children will secure their ability to read numbers into the millions. In geometry, they will deepen their understanding of 2D and 3D shapes, while also developing fluency with the four operations (+ – × ÷). They will apply their knowledge of fractions, decimals, percentages and measurement to real-life problem-solving contexts. 

Throughout the term, children will work towards mastery, tackling problems in different ways and carrying out independent investigations. Daily arithmetic and regular times tables practice will help them choose the most efficient methods with growing confidence. 

History 

This term, the children will be learning about Ancient Egypt. They will discover where it was located, explore how the Egyptians were skilled farmers and engineers through their use of irrigation, and examine a range of historical sources. They will also learn about the structure of Egyptian society, including the role of the pharaohs, and investigate the fascinating history of the pyramids. To enrich their learning, the children will take part in a special Rainbow Theatre workshop, where they will experience the story of Moses set in ancient Egyptian times, helping to bring the period vividly to life. 

Geography 

In geography, the children will be learning about rivers. They will explore where the major rivers are located in Europe, investigate where the world’s water is stored, and study the features of our local stream. They will also research how a river’s course changes as it flows downstream. To support their learning, the children will go on a school trip to Deptford Creek, where they will explore the River Thames and discover why it is such an important habitat for both humans and wildlife.  

Computing 

In computing, the children will begin by learning about online safety, considering online profiles, the dangers of sharing personal information, and how to judge the reliability of online sources. They will also explore different online communities and reflect on the positive behaviours needed to interact safely and respectfully. Later in the term, the children will use develop their word processing skills. 

Science  

In science, we will begin our physics unit by studying forces. The children will explore what forces are and investigate the effects of gravity, air resistance, water resistance, and friction on different objects. They will also enjoy several hands-on experiments, helping to bring these scientific concepts to life and develop their understanding through practical investigation. 

RW 

In RW, Year 5 will be exploring the Big Question: “Who is to blame if we do wrong?”. The children will consider the importance of forgiveness and how it is understood in different religions. They will also learn about infant and adult baptism, the Jewish coming-of-age traditions, and the role of charity in various faiths, deepening their understanding of religious beliefs and practices. 

Music  

In music, Year 5 will be working with specialist teachers from BYMT. The children will take part in a rolling programme of class ukulele and music technology, learning to play the keyboard and use GarageBand on the Apple Macs in our Media Suite. This programme provides a continuum of study, giving children the opportunity to develop their musical skills across a range of instruments and technologies. 

PE 

In P.E., the children will have two lessons per week, one with Crofton’s sports teachers and one with their class teacher. This term, they will be taking part in tag rugby, netball, gymnastics, and game sense, developing skills such as attacking, defending, and dribbling while building confidence and teamwork. 

Art  

In art, the children will be exploring the topic ‘A Look in the Mirror’, creating self-portraits in pencil. They will develop their understanding of value, exploring the effects of light and dark, and practise drawing different facial features such as eyes, nose, and ears. Later in the term, they will study Picasso and learn how to manipulate facial features in creative and expressive ways.