Upper Key Stage 2 · Ages 9–10
Year 5.
Nick Sharratt Class & Malorie Blackman Class. The first year of Upper Key Stage 2: outer space, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, mountains and rivers. Bigger projects, more independence, and the year before SATs.
The team
Two classes, two children's authors.
Each Year 5 class is named after a much-loved children's author whose books we read together throughout the year. Our Year 5 teaching assistants are Ms Ford, Mrs Cracknell and Miss Bulled. They work across the Year 5 classes rather than in one class, so they can go where they are needed.
Upper KS2 · Year 5
Nick Sharratt Class
Miss Hoare
Class teacher
Upper KS2 · Year 5
Malorie Blackman Class
Mrs Jestico
Class teacher
Curriculum
What they're learning, this year.
Year 5 takes the children further than they've gone before: out into space and back to the Anglo-Saxons in autumn, the Vikings and mountains in spring, then rivers and a summer of sport. One big trip a year. The year before SATs.
The year at a glance
Autumn 1
Is There Anybody Out There?
Autumn 2
Anglo-Saxons
Spring 1
Vicious Vikings
Spring 2
Mountain High
Summer 1
River Deep
Summer 2
Summer of Sport
Autumn term · this term
Is there anybody out there?
Earth, space, and what's beyond.
Year 5 start the year looking up. We learn about our Solar System and the efforts made to explore it, how astronauts prepare for space missions, and what we know about other planets, ending the half term with a debate on whether there could be life out there. In science it's Earth and Space, including a moon crater investigation, and there's a STEM morning in school. In maths we work on place value and the four operations; in art, typography; and in RSHE, identity.
After half term, Autumn 2: Anglo-Saxons. We'll find out where the Anglo-Saxons fit into the timeline of our country and the wider world: who they were, why they came, and the impact they have had on our lives today.
By the end of Year 5
What success looks like.
Year 5 builds on everything from Year 4 and adds a layer. Bigger numbers, deeper inference, more sophisticated writing. These are the milestones — every child develops at their own pace.
Mathematics
Count forwards and backwards through zero with positive and negative numbers; in steps of powers of 10 up to 1,000,000. Compare and order numbers up to 1,000,000 and decimals to 3 places. Read Roman numerals to 1,000. Recall prime numbers up to 19; recognise square and cube numbers. Multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1,000. Multiply proper fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers.
Reading
Summarise main points of an argument and form a personal view. Compare two texts. Recognise bias in persuasive writing. Draw inferences and justify with evidence. Vary voice for direct or indirect speech. Use more than one source for research; create notes to summarise.
Writing
Use a range of sentence openers, judging effect. Adapt sentence structure to text type. Use modal verbs for possibility. Use brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis. Link ideas across paragraphs with adverbials of time, place and number. Write legibly, fluently and with increasing speed.
Just for Year 5 parents
Things only you need to know.
A few Year 5 specifics — the river trip in the summer term, the homework rhythm picks up, and we start laying the foundations for next year's SATs without making a thing of it.
The river trip (summer 1)
The Year 5 trip to the River Adur is a highlight — a local-study walk for the River Deep topic in the summer term. Free of charge. Parent helpers welcome — let the office know if you'd like to come along.
Homework
Reading 3–5 times a week, weekly spellings on the school website (sent out Friday), TT Rockstars practice. Spellings are a real focus this year — short daily practice (5 minutes) makes the difference, and supports the SATs prep next year.
Foundations for SATs
Year 5 isn't a SATs year — Year 6 is — but a lot of the groundwork happens here. We use times tables and reading fluency built in Y4 and consolidate; we don't drill or stress about it. Trust the rhythm; the gentle work this year pays off in Y6.
Communication
Day-to-day messages come via SchoolPing. Anything urgent — call the school office on 01273 453176 and we'll get a message to the class teacher.
Want to see Year 5 for yourself?
Contact the school office to arrange a visit at a time that suits you — we're happy to help.