Upper KS2
In Upper Key Stage 2 (Year 5 and Year 6), we endeavour to create a positive learning environment, which allows all pupils to thrive. The Upper KS2 team work closely together to encourage children to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for the transition into secondary education. High expectations of behaviour, independent learning and a challenging curriculum are at the heart of our culture for learning.
In maths, we follow the pedagogy of Teaching for Mastery. Our schemes of learning are taken from the White Rose Maths, who believe in creating; 'a culture that produces strong, secure learning and real progress.' We build upon the learning from Years 3 and 4, by learning to apply children’s knowledge of multiplication and division tables to developing a strong understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages. We ensure that children have a solid understanding of arithmetical fluency, before applying this knowledge in reasoning tasks and more challenging problem solving.
In English the children are introduced to writing to discuss for the first time. They will also spend time writing to entertain, inform and persuade, and enjoy building upon their knowledge of these writing purposes, selecting from a wider range of sophisticated language choices based on their intended effect on the reader. Children in Year 5/6 will be encouraged to continually review and refine their writing, based on their understanding of how to use and manipulate grammar and vocabulary to achieve their desired effect. A wider range of punctuation is introduced in order to achieve this, including the use of brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis, as well as colons to introduce a list or set up a dramatic surprise or pause for the reader. They are encouraged to focus on cohesion (making sure that the ideas within the writing link and flow) within and across paragraphs. Children in Year 6 will be encouraged to experiment more widely with their sentence structure, according to the needs of their reader, and be introduced to more sophisticated grammatical choices, such as the passive voice and subjunctive form. The range of formality required for the audience will also become a significant element of the children’s decision-making process. Along with the range of punctuation already taught across the primary phase, children in Year 6 will practise how to use semi-colons, colons and dashes to mark the boundaries between independent clauses. In order to ensure that the children can be independent writers and showcase their talents for writing, they are provided with time and choice to support their selection of subject matter within their compositions and apply their learning within extended written outcomes.
A culture of early excellence in reading has been created through the home-school partnership, which provides the foundation for reading development.
Resources and extra-curricular opportunities enable children to develop a life-long love of reading. Texts are carefully selected to afford rich writing opportunities and these link to all aspects of the curriculum. Within lessons, there is an explicit focus on teacher modelling and direct vocabulary instruction, in order to create independent and skilled writers.
For all foundation subjects, we follow the GLF Curriculum. The GLF Curriculum is broad and balanced, with a mixture of: skills, knowledge and creativity. which deepen their knowledge and understanding of the wider world. Progress and attainment is tracked through the skills framework assessment and outcomes inform teaching.
What do our parents and carers think about UKS2 at Springfield Primary School?
'The pick-and-mix homelearning is lovely and encourages collaboration.'
'I have nothing but praise for all you do for my children.'
