WILLIAM LAW CE PRIMARY SCHOOL
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF UPPER SCHOOL PUPILS 2008/2009
Staffing and Class Organisation
Upper School comprises three classes of children in Year 5 and three classes of children in Year 6.
The teachers are Year 5:
9J
10W
11L
Miss Jones
Miss Wright
Miss Laidler
Room 9
Room 10
Room 11
Year 6:
12L
13B
14B
Mr Lowings
Miss Bigham
Mrs Bailey
Room 12
Room 13
Room 14
Children are taught in their own mixed ability classes for all subjects with the exception of: Mathematics,
which continues to be taught in ability sets across the department; and Literacy, which will be taught in
ability sets in Year 6.
Pupil Behaviour
Independence is considered to be an important aspect of personal development. Children should assume full
responsibility for their own belongings and behaviour. We ask parents to encourage their children to:
- remember to bring their book bags, homework and any other necessary items with them in
the mornings, including P.E. kit
- remember to name all belongings
- look after their own property and have respect for the property of others.
Positive behaviour is rewarded with merit marks for individual effort, and points for group and whole class
achievements. Members of staff may issue yellow cards for negative behaviour; two yellow cards in one
week results in a red card detention.
Year 6 Responsibilities
We think it important to give Year 6 children special responsibilities. These include giving out registers,
taking round notices, setting out items for assemblies and helping to organise the PE equipment. Year 6
children play an important part in the Student’s Council, meeting with teachers and school staff to exchange
ideas, and participate in the planning of future school events.
As part of our PSHE/Citizenship curriculum, Year 6 children will play a vital role in the continuation of our
successful ‘buddy system’.
Curriculum
The curriculum in Upper School continues the programme of work for Key Stage Two. The ‘Topic’ headings
for this year are:
Year 5
Year 6
Autumn
Tudors
Contrasting Locations
Spring
Ancient Greeks
Mountain Environments- mini topic
World War II - mini topic
Summer
Water and Rivers
Post War Years
The English Curriculum follows the Programmes of Study of the National Curriculum and is organised with
regard to the objectives of the National Literacy Strategy.
1.
Speaking and Listening
Children will develop skills through opportunities for collaborative planning and discussion;
individual and group presentations and formal and informal dramatic situations. They will also have
opportunities to share their reading with others and to listen to a variety of stories.
2.
Reading
Children will have opportunities to explore preferences in their reading and to develop their interests
in favourite authors and choice of subject matter. In the Upper School, emphasis is placed on
developing reading strategies for reference material.
3.
Writing
Children will write more extended pieces of work covering a variety of themes. The skills of drafting
and revising are developed and extended with emphasis placed on both content, and grammar and
punctuation skills. Spelling skills are developed to include spelling patterns, rules and word
derivations. The use of the dictionary and thesaurus is important.
4.
Handwriting
Handwriting skills continue to be taught in the Upper School and presentation of a high quality is
expected from all children.
Mathematics In Upper School we follow the guidelines in the National Numeracy Strategy. Children will
be taught in streamed ability groups, with a strong emphasis on mental arithmetic and the practical
application of mathematical skills.
Formal written procedures are developed in practical contexts.
A good knowledge of multiplication tables is important and should be consolidated at home.
Mathematics homework will be set each week to consolidate work carried out in class. We consider
homework to be a vital part of our Maths programme and cannot stress its importance enough. We
encourage you to spend time discussing these tasks at home and to talk to your children about the methods
used.
ICT All Upper School children will have regular opportunity to use a variety of programs in their Literacy,
Numeracy and Studies work, such as data handling and historical simulations. They will also have the
opportunity to access the Internet. In addition, all children will receive training on how to word process, and
how to use the PCs for research. As well as having access to classroom computers, children will have a
lesson in the computer suite each week.
Design Technology Children will be given the opportunity to use a variety of tools and materials including
wood, card and clay, and to design a variety of artefacts. Children will also use a variety of construction kits,
such as Lego Technic, to further develop their designing and problem solving skills.
Sex Education The sex education programme will be taught, as part of Science and Personal / Social
Education. In Year 5, children are taught aspects of personal hygiene, keeping healthy and about
menstruation. The topic for Year 6 work is ‘Growing and Changing’; a unit, which has a strong emphasis on
relationships, and covers both physical and emotional changes. The community nurse will be involved
during these sessions.
Physical Education normally takes place twice a week. Indoor activities will include gymnastics, themed
dancing or creative dance. Outdoor activities will include athletics and a wide range of skills required for
team games. Swimming lessons at the Peterborough Regional Pool are arranged in half term
blocks. Year 5 children have the opportunity to swim during the Autumn Term, and Year 6 in the Spring
Term.
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As a reminder the school kit for PE is black/white/bottle green shorts
plain white ‘T’ shirt
white socks
plimsolls/trainers
swimming costume and towel (full piece for girls and boys trunks must be above the knee).
a track- suit or sweatshirt top is advised.
Children with longer than chin-length hair are asked to tie their hair back. All kit should be named.
Homework
Your child will have a homework book each term in which to record all homework information. Please look
at this with your child. Children will be set a variety of activities to complete at home. Reading books should
be taken home daily and we ask parents to help their children become independent readers, by insisting on
regular reading and overseeing completion of their book reviews.
A homework project, related to the Studies and having a ‘research’ element, will be set each term.
We will give children guidance on the project but parental support would help to maximise the benefit of the
work.
On a weekly basis, children are expected to learn spellings and number facts [eg tables]. Class teachers may
also set occasional items to research, in addition to the termly project.
In some instances, children are asked to finish incomplete work during their own time, either during the
lunch break or at home.
Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities
There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities open to children in the Upper School during lunchtime and
after school. Children are advised to read the activities notice board regularly.
Tuition for those children who have started learning a musical instrument will continue in the Upper School.
As many children cycle to school we encourage all Year 6 children to take part in the Safer Cycling scheme
run by Cambridgeshire Road Safety.
Special Upper School Events and Educational Visits
Although some dates are still to be confirmed, many events and visits have been planned for the forthcoming
year.
Autumn
Derbyshire Visit
Secondary Transfer Meeting
Visit to Ken Stimpson
Visit to Lyveden New Bield
Visit to London
Visit to Burghley House
22- 26 Sept
18 September
TBC
23 Sept
14 and 21 October
TBC
Year 6
Year 6 Parents
Year 6
Class 9J
Year 5
Year 5
Spring
History visit
Easter Service at St Johns
Duxford Visit
March TBC
2 April
12th/ 13th February
Year 6
Year 5/6
Year 6
Summer
SATs
River Investigation
11-15 May
TBC
Year 6
Year 5
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Visits to Lyveden New Bield
Year 6 Concert
Local Cycle Ride
Leavers’ Service
TBC
TBC
TBC
17 July [2pm]
10W and 11L
Year 6
Year 6
Year 6
Parents at School
Parental help with school activities is very much appreciated and warmly welcomed, whether on a regular
basis or as a one-off for school visits. Parents wishing to help in some way should have a word with their
child’s class teacher.
If parents are, in any way, concerned about their child’s education or simply want to discuss matters relating
to their child, the class teacher will be happy to see them. Usually the most convenient time is between 3:15
to 4:00 in the afternoon.
Health Promoting Schools
In line with our Health Promoting Schools Status, children are not allowed to eat sweets at school. We do
advise that children drink plenty of water and because of the extended morning, we would also encourage
children to bring in a sandwich or plain biscuit for break time in addition to something healthy such as a
piece of fruit or vegetable.
Standard Assessment Tests [SATS].
Throughout Key Stage 2, children are formally assessed through tests in English, Maths and Science. The
Year 6 SATs take place during the week of 11-15 May. It is important that all children are at school
throughout this week as well as beforehand when essential revision will be undertaken. There is no
opportunity to retake the tests. Results of the SATs are reported to parents, along with teacher assessment of
progress, in the end of year report. Year 5 children will also participate in SATs, although these are nonstatutory.
Transfer to Secondary School
Children transfer to Secondary school at the end of Year 6. In previous years the largest groups of
children have transferred to Ken Stimpson Community School, Arthur Mellows Village College and The
King’s School but children have also transferred to other Peterborough and Lincolnshire schools.
During the Autumn Term, parents and children are invited to visit the various Secondary Schools. A booklet
giving brief details of each of the schools, including their opening evenings, should have already been given
to every Year 6 child. Details of the closing date for applications to Secondary School and the dates when
parents are informed of the school in which a place has been allocated for their child are contained in the
booklet.
The Headteacher is available during the Autumn Term to advise about transfer arrangements and will hold a
meeting for parents to talk generally about Secondary Transfer at 7.00pm on Thursday 18 September.
In the Summer Term, prior to transfer, there is substantial liaison between the primary and secondary
schools. Teachers from the different secondary schools visit and meet the children transferring to them and
have an opportunity to discuss particular needs with the class teacher. Children are invited to spend a day or
two at their new school, to experience a typical secondary school day, sampling lessons and finding their way
round new buildings.
Sarah Bigham
Upper School Team Leader
September 2008
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