Year 5: A Fantastic Start to the Academic Year
It has been a truly remarkable start to the academic year for Year 5 at Windrush Valley Prep School, with pupils diving enthusiastically into all areas of their learning. From creating mythical beasts to exploring the forces of nature, their creativity, curiosity, and teamwork have shone brightly.
Exploring Myths, Legends, and Poetry
In English, Year 5 began the term delving into the fascinating world of myths and legends. Using these timeless tales as inspiration, the pupils crafted their own mythical beasts, writing vivid descriptions that brought these creatures to life. They then challenged their imagination further by penning exciting myth endings, where their heroic characters triumphed over fearsome beasts in thrilling climaxes.
The class has since shifted focus to poetry, with a particular emphasis on figurative language. Through exploring similes and metaphors, pupils have created beautifully descriptive metaphor poems, showcasing their ability to use language in imaginative and meaningful ways.

Mastering Numbers
In mathematics, Year 5 has tackled some impressive concepts with confidence. They’ve completed a unit on place value, working with numbers up to one million, and have honed their addition and subtraction skills using column methods. Pupils have shown great resilience and problem-solving skills while tackling multi-step problems, demonstrating their growing competence in the subject.
Art Inspired by China
Art lessons this term have transported pupils to the vibrant world of Chinese art. Year 5 has embraced the theme by creating delightful Chinese dragons using salt dough and designing intricate Ming-style vases. These creative projects have allowed pupils to explore Chinese artistic traditions while developing their own artistic flair.
Discovering the Elizabethan Age
In history, Year 5 has been captivated by the events of the Elizabethan age. The term began with an exploration of Queen Elizabeth I, delving into how she became one of the most powerful monarchs in history. The class then followed Sir Francis Drake’s daring circumnavigation of the globe and are now studying the dramatic events of the Spanish Armada. Pupils have shown a keen interest in this fascinating period, with lively discussions and a thirst for knowledge.
Forces in Action
Science lessons have been a hands-on exploration of forces, with exciting experiments to deepen understanding. Pupils designed and tested parachutes to investigate air resistance, learning the importance of fair testing along the way. More recently, the class conducted experiments on water resistance, shaping playdough into different forms and timing how long each shape took to sink in a water-filled tube. Every pupil played a vital role in the experiment, from timing and recording results to catching the shapes as they emerged—a highlight for all!
Strength Through Sport
Sports this term have focused on hockey, rugby, and endurance running. Year 5 pupils have displayed great determination, teamwork, and a positive attitude in all their activities, making impressive progress in their skills and fitness.
With such an outstanding start to the academic year, Year 5 is certainly on track for a successful and rewarding term ahead!