Year 6

Year 6 is a very busy but extremely enjoyable year. The children will be encouraged to take on more responsibility around school and are expected to take a greater control of their own learning. I believe that children should be stretched this year, without being stressed, to achieve their own personal potential.

Please Click HERE for more information on what will be taught throughout the year.

The children will also have the opportunity to take on additional responsibility around school including becoming a house captain, a prefect or even Head or Deputy Head girl or boy, as well as helping in the infants during rainy playtimes and assisting in nursery and reception at lunch times.

Entrance Exams

In year 6 we have two sets of exams. The first come in January when the children sit the King David High School entrance exam along with any independent school exams that you choose. These are generally in English and Maths with some schools having an additional science and/or verbal or non verbal reasoning paper. The children will have lots of support in school for these exams and if there is any additional help you need, please just come and ask. Please go through any corrections with your child – it is not only completing papers that will help your child move forward but correcting mistakes and understanding common errors.

SATS & End of Year Assessments

There are SATS tests in English and Maths. The statutory SATS take place in Year 2 and Year 6 and these results are reported to the government. In Year 3 – 5 the children complete the optional SATS and these results, along with teacher assessments throughout the year inform the final judgement. In Year 1, the children complete a statutory phonics screening test in June and are assessed in Reading, Writing and Maths through teacher assessment.

Transition Curriculum

In the final half term of school, year 6 begin our wonderful transition curriculum. This curriculum includes:

Cycling proficiency
Visit on the metro to a recycling plant
Out and about crossing roads on the way to the park
Streetwise visits exploring emotions and situations associated with their move to high school
Writing and performing ‘Speech Day’ where they recall memories of their time in school
A Spanish lesson
Designing and making a roller coaster
End of year production
Year book
School newspaper

Homework

As you can see, we have a packed curriculum. In order to meet all the requirements of the National Curriculum and the preparation for the entrance exams, homework plays a vital part in our year. The children will need a quiet place to complete their work, away from distractions. As a rule, they will have between 30minutes and an hour every night. All homework will be written down in their ‘monkey’ homework diaries.

If the children need support with their homework it is important that we all support them with it. The children should ALWAYS attempt homework by themselves but should they be struggling or becoming confused please do help them with it – particularly when they are completing past papers. Once again, if there are any problems, please let me know.

Usual Weekly Homework –

Monday

– Spellings for the following Monday
– Handwriting for Tuesday
– Spellaway for Tuesday
– Tables for the following Monday
– Reading

Tuesday

– Mental Arithmetic for Thursday
– Reading

Wednesday

– Mental Arithmetic for Thursday
– Reading

Thursday

– Piece of English, Maths or Science
– Reading

Friday

– Two pieces of work linked to the weeks work, usually English, Maths and Science
– Reading

Equipment

It is really important that children have all the required equipment in school all the time and that all uniform and PE kit is clearly labelled. It is also important that kit is checked each term to ensure that it still fits and is still suitable for PE lessons.

PE Kit

Outdoor – Navy blue tracksuit, white t-shirt and trainers
Indoor – Navy blue shorts, white t-shirt and black pumps

Other Equipment – Once again please label all equipment and replace it when required.

– Clear plastic water bottle
– Homework folder
– Blue or black pens with which your child can write neatly
– H.B. Pencils (at least 2)
– Rubber
– Pencil sharpener
– Set of coloured pencils
– Set of felt tip pens
– 2 small glue sticks
– Small roll of sellotape
– 30 cm ruler, which measures in both cm. and mm.
– Dictionary – Collins new compact dictionary or Collins compact – English dictionary or Oxford colour dictionary – with thesaurus
– Collins maths dictionary – Kay Gardner ISBN: 0 – 00 – 720783 – 2
– The first aid in English by Angus Mclver – Published by Robert Gibson – ISBN: 0 – 340 – 88287 – 5

Reading

At BWJPS, reading for pleasure is extremely important. To encourage this, we have a reading for pleasure slot every day where we encourage children to read a variety of books. If you wish to help us provide these by generously donating a book to our Y6 classroom, you will find our Amazon Wishlist here.

Please remember that if there is anything you need, do come and see me – lets work together to make your child’s final year in primary school a very happy, rewarding and successful one!

Mrs Kobak

Latest from Year 6

Paralympics Assembly

Date: 26/01/2022

Today, Mr Wilde delivered an assembly to all children from Reception to year 6 to inform them of an exciting event we have coming up. Next month, we will be visited by paralympic gold medallist, Megan Giglia, who will be talking to our pupils and delivering a sports workshop with each class. All she asks for in return is that all children try to raise some sponsorship money (minimum of £2 each). Out of this, a small percentage will go to her charity and the rest will go to upgrading our sports equipment in school: win win! Look out for your child’s sponsorship form.

Holocaust Memorial Day – Part 1

Date: 26/01/2022

Yesterday, years 5 and 6 turned into teachers to carry out a whole school project for Holocaust Memorial Day. Inspired by the British Values of tolerance and respect, we discussed the importance of this day and how we can learn from the past. From this, we came up with hopes and dreams that we wish will one day come true for the whole world. Once years 5 and 6 completed their own, they took this learning and delivered it to every class; even staying to help each child complete their own. Mrs Kobak and Miss Pereira were very proud of each member and how they really took charge with this project but, more importantly, each member of the class enjoyed helping their younger peers. We cannot wait to see the finished product.

Tu B’Shevat

Date: 18/01/2022

On Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th January, we celebrated Tu B’Shevat by carrying out a variety of arts and crafts. We also ate lots of different types of fruit, planted sunflower seeds and learnt lots of interesting facts about the holiday. Chag sameach everyone!

Chanukah Fun

Date: 02/12/2021

This week, we have celebrated Chanukah in numerous ways. However, our highlights were making latkes and performing our Chanukah concert to all of our lovely families. We hope you enjoyed!

Snow Business

Date: 30/11/2021

Years 5 and 6 enjoyed their snow day by making the most of their break times and building two snowmen. The team work and enthusiasm that came from this was wonderful to witness and I – along with all the children – can’t wait for more snow to come!

Showbie – digital learning experience

Date: 21/10/2021

The children in Year 1 – 6 had some wonderful sessions with an expert showing them how to use Showbie and access some of the amazing features available using the IPADS. This is Year 5 & 6 enjoying their session on Thursday.

3D River Models & Racing Car!

Date: 11/06/2021

What an action packed afternoon Years 5 & 6 had today! It was a busy start with children working in their mixed year groups to complete the final stages of their 3D river models: painting and labelling. All children worked extremely well together, with Year 6 taking role of mountain expert and Year 5 showcasing their new river knowledge. We are all very proud of the end results:

This fun-filled afternoon was made even better by the visit of Mr Gauld – a real racing car driver – and his Ginetta GTA. Mr Gauld answered all the children’s questions regarding the car and his career, whilst Miss Pereira was more intrigued as to whether Freddie Flintoff was actually as tall as he looks. A great afternoon for all children – and staff!

Local MP Visit

Date: 24/05/2021

On Friday afternoon, as part of Year 5/6 project afternoons, we were very lucky to have the MP of Bury South – Christian Wakeford – visit our school. Years 5 and 6 had the chance to ask him a variety of questions surrounding parliament; his path to becoming a MP; and his career. It was a great opportunity for the classes and very inspiring.

Year 5/6 Project Afternoons

Date: 12/05/2021

Since returning to full Fridays, years 5 and 6 have taken the opportunity to carry out various projects together. These have ranged from:

participating in a recycling workshop
Ethan teaching us key phrases and numbers 1-10 in Thai (shown below)
learning about Parliament

The classes have really enjoyed the range of activities that have been offered and have embraced each other’s company. As a result, we have lots more plans coming up, including designing and creating 3D river systems and creating a poetry slam.

Lag B’Omer Drum Session

Date: 30/04/2021

To celebrate the joyous festival that is Lag B’Omer, we were lucky enough to have an African drumming session. We learnt how to use them and all had a go of making a new beat. Here is our group beat which made Miss Pereira and Mrs Kobak quite emotional; it sounds brilliant!

Mindfulness Sessions

Date: 26/04/2021

Years 5 and 6 are very lucky as our trainee teacher, Miss Moss, has set up a lunchtime mindfulness club. During these sessions, years 5 and 6 have explored mindfulness eating and ways to feel happy or keep calm. Last week they started to make dreamweavers, which they really enjoyed, as you can see below.

Letters to the Queen

Date: 20/04/2021

Year 6 wrote letters of condolence to the Queen last week to let her know that their thoughts are with her.

Learning about volume

Date: 23/03/2021

Year 6 have been exploring volume using a range of practical resources.

Y5/6 Writing Session

Date: 17/12/2020

Following on from our author zoom with Sufiya Ahmed, we decided to try writing our own war/ spy stories. To do this, years 5 and 6 paired up and worked together to write our stories before reading them aloud to one another. This was a great activity and a wonderful opportunity for children to learn from one another. We had a great time!

Author Zoom

Date: 11/12/2020

Years 5 and 6 were very lucky to have a zoom meeting with Sufiya Ahmed on Wednesday. Sufiya, author of Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan, worked in the Houses of Parliament as a researcher and writer before becoming a full-time author. She now has 3 books published, two of which focus on human rights. Sufiya spoke to us about her previous career and how she became an author; she also shared some tips with the classes on how to become authors themselves. The children really enjoyed the session; being able to ask her questions and listening to a chapter from her recently published book about Noor Khan. She has also kindly agreed to sell SIGNED copies of the book to school for a discounted price of £6.50 so let Miss Pereira or Mrs Kobak know if you would like one.

Tik Tok

Date: 29/11/2020

Tik Tok is a social media app where users share videos. This app is for users of 13 years or over but many of our children do have the app. Please visit the link to find tips and advice on how to keep your child safe on the app:

Tik Tok carers guide

Our new display

Date: 03/11/2020

We wanted to share our new class display with you!

Art Day

Date: 14/10/2020

Year 6 have been deepening their knowledge of artists by looking at the work of Alfred Wallis and creating pieces based on his work. They explored the use of pen to draw careful patterns on fish and oil pastel to produce detailed shells.

Exam prep has started!

Date: 28/09/2020

In maths basic skills, the children have started to look at the type of questions they will see on the arithmetic maths papers in the entrance exams. Their knowledge and attitude to learning was VERY impressive!