St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
We act with love, build our faith and grow as people
Year 5
Meet the Teacher Presentation 2025-2026
Year 5 Long Term Planning Map
Recommended Reads
Recommended reading list for Year 5: 
Lit in Colour
Recommended book list of books by authors of colour
Penguin Books and Lit in Colour state that:
Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world.
It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
Here at St. Margaret Clitherow, we have a diverse school community - 55.7% of our school children are from a minority ethnic background. We therefore think it is important that children have access to books that reflect who they are. Attached is a list of recommended reads put together by Penguin Books. You can read the research behind the inclusion of books by authors of colour here:https:// https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/parents-and-supporters
2023 KS2 Lit in Colour Book List
Newsletter 12/12/25
We have already reached the final week of the term before Christmas, and it truly has flown by! This Advent, we are proud to be supporting the incredible charity TYAC (Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service). On Tuesday 2nd December, Mr. Raine led a beautiful assembly sharing the inspiring work TYAC does to support families of young people facing a cancer diagnosis in our local area. He spoke movingly about how he and his family tirelessly fundraise in loving memory of their daughter, Natasha. The children were invited to wear something purple, the colour of TYAC and Natasha’s favourite. It was heartwarming to see our school community come together so thoughtfully to honour such a meaningful cause.
This week, we also said a very emotional farewell to Mr. Raine. As a final gift to the school, he presented us with a stunning handmade mosaic of St Margaret Clitherow, thoughtfully placing each tile by hand. We are so grateful for his kindness, creativity and service, he will be dearly missed by us all.
In Maths, the children are certainly “fractions-ed out” after all their hard work this term! They have shown fantastic dedication while adding and subtracting mixed numbers, and we are incredibly proud of how confidently they now apply these tricky skills.
The children have recently completed their recount letters in English and are now diving into descriptive writing inspired by our class novel, The Nowhere Emporium. Their imaginations have taken them into magical, mysterious worlds, and they are working carefully with powerful verbs and figurative language to build atmosphere and bring their writing to life.
We have now completed our DT textiles unit, and we hope you were just as amazed as we were by the children’s beautiful wall hangings. Their perseverance, creativity, and pride in their work truly shone through. Even those who doubted their sewing abilities at first have now mastered the running stitch, blanket stitch, and layered appliqué!
In RE, we have been reflecting on how we can “prepare the way” during Advent as we await the birth of Jesus. The children have been thinking deeply about the obstacles or barriers in their own lives that they can work to remove in order to become kinder, more compassionate, and more faithful followers of Christ.
As we prepare for the Christmas break, myself and Mrs. Tomlin would like to wish you all a blessed and joyful Christmas. Thank you for your continued support throughout the term ,we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!
Newsletter 21/11/25
Year 5 have been busy with a wonderful range of learning and experiences over the past few weeks. We were fortunate to welcome staff from The Oakwood Centre, who delivered a thoughtful presentation about the Christian message of security in God’s love. They spoke beautifully about how, as Christians, we are reassured by the unconditional love God shows us through Jesus. When we know we are loved no matter what, we gain the confidence to take risks, grow, and flourish without fear of failure. It was inspiring for the children to reflect on how this kind of freedom can shape their own lives.
Year 5 also attended a meaningful Remembrance service, where we observed a two-minute silence to honour those who lost their lives. It was touching to see several children proudly wearing their Cubs, Brownies, and Scouts uniforms as a sign of respect and remembrance.
In RE, we have been exploring aspects of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly looking at how we can be leaders who show compassion, stand up for the marginalised and follow Jesus’ footsteps. We have also discussed themes of forgiveness, dignity, and how our actions can help build a respectful community both in and outside of school.
In Maths, the children have been working incredibly hard on fractions, including converting mixed numbers to improper fractions and applying this knowledge to problem-solving. They have shown great perseverance, and all their practice is really helping to embed these important skills.
Our Design Technology unit on textiles is now underway, and the children have made an excellent start. Their sewing skills have been very impressive, and we are excited to see the final products come together in the coming weeks.
The children also took part in an exciting street dance workshop, where they thoroughly enjoyed learning new routines and confidently showing off their fantastic moves.
As we enter the festive season, the children have been busy rehearsing for our Christmas Carols. We are very grateful to Mr. Cannon, who is kindly supporting the children with their vocal techniques and musical arrangements. His guidance has helped the children grow in confidence, and their singing is sounding lovely.
In English, we have been studying recount and letter writing. The children have been analysing the key features of effective letters, including distinguishing between fact and opinion, maintaining clear chronological order, and using rhetorical questions to engage the reader. They are now preparing to write their own recount letters using these skills with increasing independence.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are incredibly proud of the effort and enthusiasm Year 5 have shown this term, and we look forward to sharing more of their wonderful learning with you in the weeks ahead.
Newsletter 17/10/25
What a wonderful half term it has been in Year 5! We began with our Celebration of the Word, where it was lovely to see so many parents joining us. The children were eager to share their learning about our class saint, St. Raphael, and reflect on the importance of healing and guidance in our lives and within our community. It was a beautiful opportunity to come together in prayer and gratitude.
In English, we have started our new non-chronological report unit, and the children are thoroughly enjoying creating and writing about their own fictional planets. They have shown great imagination and are confidently using expanded noun phrases and adverbials to make their writing detailed and engaging. We have also been focusing on planning, note-taking, and organising information into clear sections, all essential skills for successful writing.
In Maths, our focus has been on multiples and factors. The children have been exploring patterns, identifying relationships between numbers, and challenging themselves to find multiple strategies to solve problems. Their mathematical reasoning is developing beautifully, and they are showing real perseverance when tackling more complex challenges.
In Computing, Year 5 have been working on an exciting 3D modelling unit. They have enjoyed using digital tools to design and create their own 3D houses, experimenting with shapes, patterns, and coordinates to produce accurate and creative models.
In RE, we have been exploring ‘The People of God’. The children have reflected deeply on what it means to live as one of God’s people and how qualities such as faith, kindness, and forgiveness help us to live out God’s mission in our everyday lives. Thoughtful class discussions have helped the children connect these values to their own experiences at school and at home.
In Geography, our Rivers topic has continued to flow beautifully! The children have been carrying out fieldwork investigations, collecting and comparing data from our local river and the River Trent. Next week, we are looking forward to a hands-on activity in the playground, where we will be replicating a river system to demonstrate our understanding of features such as the source, meanders, and the mouth, bringing our learning to life in an exciting way!
In Music, we have been learning about blues rhythms and melodies. Using the glockenspiels, the children recreated a blues song by playing chords and experimenting with tempo and harmony. It has been wonderful to see their confidence and musicality grow.
Finally, Year 5 have been getting into the festive spirit early by designing their own Christmas cards! Their creativity and attention to detail have been fantastic, and we can’t wait to see the finished printed versions ready to be shared and delivered in time for Christmas.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support, especially for your generous donations to our Harvest appeal, which will make such a difference to those in need.
Have a wonderful and restful half term break.
Newsletter 26/09/25
We have had such a busy and productive start to the term, and it has been wonderful getting to know the children as they have settled in so well!
In English, our SPaG focus has been on collective and partitive nouns, and the children have enjoyed spotting these in texts and creating their own examples. We are now moving on to verbs, with a particular focus on phrasal verbs as well as regular and irregular forms. Alongside this, the children have been developing their writing skills by applying these grammar points in short descriptive passages.
In Maths, we have been working on place value, and the children are becoming experts at rounding numbers from 10 all the way up to 1,000,000! They have been practising reading, writing, ordering, and comparing large numbers, which has helped them gain a strong sense of number. This solid foundation will support them as we move on to problem-solving and reasoning tasks where they can apply these skills in real-life contexts.
Our Science lessons have taken us into space! We have been learning about the planets in our solar system and comparing their size, distance, and unique features. The children carried out investigations with shadows to prove that the Earth is spherical. Using Eratosthenes’ technique, we discovered how shadows grow longer and shorter depending on the time of day and how this provides evidence of a round Earth. We also discussed how scientists use observations and measurements to make sense of our world, and the children were fascinated to see how an experiment from over 2,000 years ago is still relevant today.
We have started our Creation unit in RE with a fun and thoughtful hot-seating activity. The children had the chance to take on the roles of Adam and Eve, answering questions about what life was like on Earth, the challenges of temptation, and the meaning of scripture. We reflected on how God gave humanity responsibility for creation and what this means for us today.
In Art, we have been exploring chromatic techniques and studying the work of various artists to inspire our own portraits. The children have been learning how to mix primary colours to create a wide range of shades, including realistic skin tones.
Finally, Year 5 have voted for their new School Council representatives. We were treated to some inspiring speeches from children who shared their ideas on how to make positive changes in our school, including a focus on sustainability and inclusion!
It has truly been a wonderful start to the year, and we are excited to see all the fantastic learning and growth still to come.
