2025 A1 Week 8

24 October 2025

The half term has come to an end and I have been so impressed with all the hard work and dedication shown. The mature attitude towards learning has been extremely positive to see and I hope everyone has a well earned rest.

In maths, we have been continuing with our fractions unit and learnt how to convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions. We have also begun comparing fractions by finding a common demoniator.

In English, our Origin of Species unit came to an end with the publication of our non-chronological reports. The full range of organisational skills were on show and superb choices on layout and style were made.

On Thursday, we had a ‘Spirituality Day’, which involved reflecting on ourselves, others, nature and our relationship with a higher power. Our class had the objective of having more care, wonder and appreciation which all of them achieved with flying colours! A future goal of ours is to consider and refer back to this in our daily lives. On this celebratory day, we also noticed that being spiritually minded helps to enhance our mental well being and connection to our community. What a wonderful way to end the half-term!

Outdoor Learning blog by Ms Partington

Site Guardians: Safety and Science!

We're excited to tell you about the first outdoor learning session of the block, where the Year 6 children stepped up as our official "Site Guardians"! This isn't just about getting muddy; it's a powerful combination of responsibility, advanced safety skills, and scientific classification right in our local environment.

The Safety Expedition: Moving Beyond "Don't Run"

This week, the children moved past generic rules and took on a crucial risk assessment challenge. We wanted them to develop a real-world understanding of safety management.

What They Did:

Co-Constructed Rules: They worked together to agree on the three most important rules for our new site, fostering immediate ownership.
The Hazard Hunt: In small groups, they scoured a defined area, moving from general safety concerns to identifying specific, non-obvious hazards (e.g., "a low-hanging branch near the seating area”, “exposed tree roots” or “hidden holes on the walkway”..
Solving the Problem: Each group didn't just point out a risk—they had to propose a realistic solution or management plan, encouraging them to take a responsible role in risk management

The Tree Classification Quest: Scientific Mapping

The second core part of the session focused on a key Science objective: classifying living things. Our Guardians became naturalists, mapping the different types of trees on site.

What We Learnt:

Tree Terminology: We did a quick refresh on the key distinctions: Broadleaf (wide leaves, like an Oak), Coniferous (cones, needles, like a Pine), Deciduous (loses leaves), and Evergreen (keeps leaves).
Justifying Their Science: They presented their findings, justifying their classifications and articulating arguments.

The children's enthusiasm and dedication to their role as "Site Guardians" was fantastic. They finished the session with a moment of silent reflection before returning back to the classroom.

We can’t wait to discover more when we return from our half term break. Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather and prepared to be outdoors—mud is mandatory!