Shirehampton Year 5
Welcome to Year 5 at Shirehampton Primary School.
Year 5 marks the beginning of Upper Key Stage 2. Throughout the year, children build upon their existing knowledge and skills while becoming increasingly independent, confident and responsible learners.
Children are encouraged to challenge themselves, think deeply about their learning and take greater responsibility for their organisation and progress as they begin the final two years of primary school.
Our Year 5 classes are Bangkok and Shanghai.
Meet the Year 5 Team
Bangkok Class
Mr Joe Daly
Shanghai Class
Miss Mikaela Thomas
Mrs Lindsay Barnes supports across year 5 and 6.
Our Year 5 team works together to provide an engaging and supportive learning environment where children are encouraged to be curious, resilient and increasingly independent.
Learning in Year 5
Children in Year 5 follow a broad and ambitious curriculum which builds progressively upon their previous learning.
Reading, writing and mathematics remain central to children's learning, alongside Science, History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Computing, Spanish, Music, PE, Religious Education and PSHE.
As children move into Upper Key Stage 2, they are encouraged to think more deeply, make connections between different areas of learning, use increasingly sophisticated vocabulary and explain and justify their ideas.
Children continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of Spanish as part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum.
Reading
Reading continues to be a priority throughout Year 5.
Children develop their fluency, stamina, vocabulary and comprehension through reading and discussing a broad range of increasingly challenging fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
Children are encouraged to retrieve and summarise information, make inferences and predictions, explore unfamiliar vocabulary and consider how authors use language and structure to influence the reader.
As children become more independent readers, we encourage them to explore different authors, genres and types of text and begin to develop their own reading preferences.
Regular reading at home remains really important. Talking about what children are reading, discussing unfamiliar vocabulary and asking them to explain their opinions can help develop deeper comprehension.
What We Are Learning
Our Year 5 curriculum builds progressively upon children's previous learning and provides opportunities for them to deepen their knowledge and apply their skills across the full range of curriculum subjects.
You can find an overview of the learning planned for Year 5 below.
📄 Year 5 Curriculum Overview 2026–27
Home Learning
Home learning in Year 5 supports children in consolidating important knowledge and developing the independent learning habits they will increasingly need as they progress through Upper Key Stage 2.
Children are encouraged to read regularly at home and continue practising multiplication tables and key number facts so that these can be recalled quickly and accurately.
Children may also be asked to practise spellings or complete other activities which consolidate or extend learning taking place in school.
We encourage children to begin taking greater responsibility for remembering and organising their own home learning.
How You Can Help at Home
There are lots of simple ways you can support your child's learning in Year 5.
You can help by:
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Encouraging regular independent reading
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Talking about books and asking your child to explain their opinions
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Discussing unfamiliar vocabulary and its meaning
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Continuing to practise multiplication and division facts
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Practising spellings where appropriate
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Using everyday opportunities to practise mathematics, such as money, time, measures and calculations
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Talking about what your child is learning across the curriculum
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Encouraging your child to research and explore areas that interest them
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Supporting increasing independence and organisation
As children get older, one of the most valuable things families can do is show an interest in their learning. Asking children to explain something they have learned is a great way of helping them retrieve and strengthen their knowledge.
Developing Independence
Year 5 is an important year for developing the independence children will need as they move towards Year 6 and, eventually, secondary school.
Children are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for:
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Organising their belongings
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Remembering what they need for school
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Managing home learning
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Taking care of equipment
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Asking for help when they need it
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Responding positively to feedback
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Persevering when learning is challenging
We work with children to develop confidence, resilience and responsibility while recognising that independence develops at different rates for different children.
Useful Information
PE Days
[Add current Year 5 PE days]
Reading
Children are encouraged to read regularly at home and increasingly take responsibility for their own reading routines.
Multiplication Tables
Children should continue to practise multiplication and division facts regularly so that they can recall them fluently and apply them confidently within more complex mathematics.
What Children Need
Children should bring a named water bottle to school each day.
Please ensure that clothing and personal belongings are clearly named.
Children are encouraged to take responsibility for organising and looking after their own belongings.
Communication
Important year-group information and reminders will be shared with families through Arbor.
If you have a question about your child's learning or wellbeing, please speak to their class teacher. For non urgent matters you can email your child's class teacher. These email addresses are checked weekly during term time.
Miss Mikaela Thomas: shanghai@shirehampton-jun.bristol.sch.uk
Mr Joe Daly: bangkok@shirehampton-jun.bristol.sch.uk
For urgent matters or information relating to absence, please contact the school office.