Friday, 17th October 

It’s been another busy and creative week in Year 6!

In Science, we concluded our learning on classification by becoming scientists ourselves! Year 6 designed and classified their very own unique creatures — thinking carefully about their habitat, diet, behaviour, and how they might reproduce. We had some very interesting blends of creatures which got us thinking about how to classify them! The children did a brilliant job of explaining the characteristics of their creatures.

In Geography, we’ve been working hard in groups to develop our fieldwork presentations. Each team has been preparing to share their findings, including their research questions, methodology, data collection, and overall evaluation of their local study. Everyone has shown fantastic teamwork and critical thinking as they piece together their evidence — we can’t wait to see the final presentations next week!

In RE, our focus has been on exploring how Christians show love, holiness, and forgiveness through artwork. We considered religious symbols, architecture, and imagery, then began designing our own creative representations of these key values.

Home Learning: 

You have the following Doodle Assignments set: 

Maths - To simplify fractions

English - Using adverbials to express time

Spelling - Adding suffixes beginning with vowels to words ending in -fer

reference, referee, preference, transference, conference, inference, preferable, transferable

Please make sure that these are complete, and you are in the green zone for all 3 areas, by the end of the half term (Tuesday, 4th November). 

Please continue to read during the half term. Reading records will be checked and signed on the first Friday back. 

Next week: 

The last day of half term is on Wednesday. There will be a Book Look for KS2 parents on Wednesday between 3pm and 3.45pm. We invite you into the classroom via the external classroom doors to share in the children's wonderful work this half term. 

In Maths, we will be learning to compare and order fractions using the numerator and then the denominator. 

In English, we will be editing and publishing our characterisation narratives. 

Evidence for the Changemaker Project should be brought in on Tuesday (21st). This will be reviewed and then stickers will be awarded on Wednesday. 

Have a brilliant weekend, 

Miss Paxton

Friday, 10th October 

It’s been another busy and exciting week in Year 6!

In Maths, we’ve been tackling long division and growing in confidence with this tricky skill! In English, we have begun drafting our own stories, carefully building atmosphere and developing characters through action and dialogue.

In Science, we explored the fascinating world of fungi by investigating how spores are dispersed. Using  mushrooms, we created beautiful spore prints to observe the tiny structures that help fungi reproduce.

Over in Geography, we’ve started to analyse the data collected from our local fieldwork. We have been writing up summative statements and preparing a group presentation to share findings — excellent teamwork on display!

🔔 Reminder: Our Change Maker Project continues — next week is the final week for anyone who would like to complete additional tasks or add finishing touches before we share our work.

Home Learning 

You have the following new Doodle assignments:

Maths - The order of operations (BODMAS)

English - Identifying apostrophes

Spelling - Adding suffixes beginning with a vowel to words ending in -fer

referring, referred, referral, preferring, preferred, transferring, transferred, transferral

Reading records and Doodle home learning are checked on Fridays. 

Next week: 

On Thursday, we have a short visit from the police to talk to us about their anti-violence campaign.

In Maths, we will be using known facts (times tables knowledge) to solve more complex problems.

In English, we will continue drafting and editing our own portal stories based on our book Skellig. We are considering carefully how to 'show' emotions and features (e.g. scared or old) rather than tell. 

Next week, we will also be completing our first set of practise SATs papers. This is to help familiarise children with the format, structure of the week and begin to manage time.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, 

Mrs Rayburn

Friday, 3rd October 

What an action-packed week we’ve had in Year 6!

On Wednesday, we celebrated our Harvest Festival with the whole school. Year 6 took a leading role by performing a short drama, sharing Bible readings, and leading the congregation in prayers. The children spoke with confidence and really helped to make the service special.

On Thursday, we had a busy but brilliant day! In the morning, we carried out our geography fieldwork in Rickmansworth. The children worked in pairs to stop members of the public and ask questions from their surveys about the Aquadrome and McDonald’s. They were polite, confident, and gathered some fantastic data that we’ll be analysing next week.

Later that day, we celebrated National Poetry Day by taking part in an online workshop with poet Simon Mole. The children explored how poetry can be fun, creative, and personal – and even had the chance to try out some of their own writing.

In Science, our mould investigation is well underway! We have been observing slices of bread each day to discover which conditions microorganisms need in order to grow. The children are very excited to see what happens, and we’ll be drawing our conclusions on Monday.

Home Learning

Doodle assignments:

Maths - Multiplying by two-digit numbers. 

English - Using apostrophes for singular possession. 
Spelling - Words containing the letter string ‘ough’. 
Spelling words: bought, tough, through, thought, fought, although, enough, cough. 
Remember that completing assignments earns you stars and helps you stay in the green zone. 
Reading records should be in school every day, and they are checked on Fridays. 
 

Next Week: 

In Maths, we will be learning to use the method for long division. 
In English, we will begin drafting our portal narratives which focus on characterisation. 
PE is on the normal days of Wednesday and Friday.

Have a great weekend, 

Mrs Rayburn

Friday, 26th September 

On Thursday, we had the fantastic opportunity to visit Merchant Taylors’ for a Hockey Festival. The children showed great teamwork, energy, and sportsmanship throughout the day. It was wonderful to see everyone giving it their best and enjoying the experience.

In DT, our playground projects are really starting to take shape. The children have been working hard on their designs and models, and it’s been lovely to see their creativity shine through. The next step will be to add paint and those all-important finishing touches to bring their playgrounds to life.

In Science, we explored Linnaeus’ classification system. The children learned how scientists classify living things into groups, and then had a go at designing their very own zoos, carefully thinking about how the species would be grouped. There were some imaginative and thoughtful designs, showing both scientific understanding and creativity.

Home Learning 

As we are not in school today, reading records will be checked on Monday 29th September and signed from today's date. Please make sure your reading record is in school every day. 

Maths - Identify common factors and common multiples

English - Identifying formal and informal language

Spelling - Adding the suffix 'ation' to words

information, adoration, sensation, preparation, admiration, perspiration, conversation, explanation

Next week: 

On Wednesday morning, we have our Harvest Festival in Church. Year 6 will be sharing a short dramatisation of Harvest. 

On Thursday afternoon, we will be carrying out our fieldwork for Geography using tally charts, questionnaires and likert scales to find out what the people of Rickmansworth think about some changes that are happening. 

On Friday afternoon, we are visiting the Sky Up studios. The children will get to see behind the scenes of live TV in the Sky Studios, and use the equipment in the studios to create their own trailer. Please note that we will be back later than the end of the school day on Friday, and will keep you updated with an ETA closer to the time. 

In Maths, we will be learning to identify square and cube numbers, and will be using formal methods for multiplication and division. 

In English, we will be learning how to use a colon to separate two independent clauses and beginning to plan our own portal narratives that show character.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Mrs Rayburn

Friday, 19th September 

It's been a busy week in Year 6 once again. Thank you to everyone who came to the Meet the Teacher meeting this morning. It was lovely to see so many of you and to share what we have planned for the year ahead. The materials shared and referred to can be found at the bottom of this page. 

In DT this week, we began creating our playground models. We used saws to cut pieces of wood (carefully and safely!) and explored different ways to reinforce our structures so that they are sturdy and strong. It was great fun working like real designers and engineers and our apparatus are coming along well. 

In Science, we learned the acronym MRS GREN to help us remember the seven life processes: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, and Nutrition. We also started to learn about the six kingdoms of life, which helped us understand how living things are classified.

In Geography, we have been preparing for our upcoming fieldwork. We mapped out our route and practised using maps to make sure we’ll be confident when we go out in a few weeks’ time. We have set the date for Thursday, 2nd October to carry out our fieldwork and will need parent support to help us to this. If you are able to spend the afternoon with us, please let the school office know. 

Home Learning 

You have three new assignments set on Doodle:
Maths - To round numbers
English - To use inverted commas 

Spelling - Adding the suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less and -ly to words. 

Our spelling words to learn are: 
angrily, argument, happiness, plentiful, penniless, happily, government, accidentally

Please make sure that you are in the green zone for English, Maths and Spelling on Fridays as this is when it will be checked. 

Please also continue to read (at least) five times during the week, get your reading record signed and bring your reading record into school on Friday for it to be checked. Reading books & records should be in school everyday. 

Next week: 

On Thursday, we are attending a Hockey Festival at Merchant Taylors School. Please make sure you come to school in PE kit. 

Friday is an INSET day; school is closed to children. 

In Maths, we will be learning to find common factors and common multiples of numbers (using our times table knowledge) and know the prime numbers to 100. 

In English, we will be learning to show the emotions of characters through specific verb and adjective choice, and using a colon to separate independent clauses. 

Next week we will spend one of our Collective worship sessions as a class, discussing our new initiative: The Changemaker Project. We introduced this bespoke citizenship programme to the school two weeks ago and we are looking forward to hearing which activities have been chosen, and how each class is getting on progressing with it. If you've not had opportunity to discuss it with your child, please do so this weekend, ready for next week. They only need to choose one activity from the Friendship section - https://online.fliphtml5.com/hrjzj/ejai/

See you on Monday.

Have a brilliant weekend! 

Mrs Rayburn

Friday, 12th September 2025

This week in Year 6, we have been busy learning across lots of different subjects! In Science,  We explored classification and discovered how scientists group living things. To practise, we had a go at classifying sweets! We used their features (like shape, colour and texture) to create our very own classification keys. It was a fun way to understand how classification works in the natural world.

In PSHE, we learned how to negotiate respectfully and compromise when we disagree with someone. We practised using kind words, listening carefully, and using 'I' statements. 

We’ve been planning our very own independent fieldwork enquiries in Geography. We first learned about different data collection methods that geographers use. Then we chose the ones that would suit our own questions and carefully planned the details of how we will carry them out.

As part of our topic on structures in DT, we began designing miniature playground equipment. We researched real playground designs to inspire us, and sketched out ideas ready to build in the coming weeks. We can’t wait to see our models come to life!

Home Learning 

Please complete your Doodle Baseline assessments in English, Maths and Spelling. 

You have been set 3 assignments to complete: 
Maths - Reading and writing numbers to 10 million

English - Punctuating direct speech

Spelling - Homophones and near homophones. 

Our key spelling words (and the ones that will be tested on Friday) are: 

prophecy, prophesy, farther, further, guessed, guest, heard, herd.

Please also make sure that you are reading (at least) 5 times during the week and getting your Reading Record signed to show this so that you can earn your stamp. 

Please ask if you have any questions!

Next week: 

In Maths, we will continue with our topic on place value and learn to calculate with negative numbers and to round numbers to any required degree of accuracy. 

In English, we are learning to write narratives which show characterisation. We are reading Skellig by David Almond and using this to inspire our writing. We will be learning how to show the emotions of our characters through what they do and what they say. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Meet the Teacher meeting on Friday 19th September at 9am. Any information shared will be made available to all.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, 

Mrs Rayburn

Friday, 5th September 2025

We are so excited to be back after the summer holidays, and what a fantastic first week it has been in Year 6! Everyone has settled in brilliantly, showing great enthusiasm and maturity as we begin our final year at primary school.

This week, we’ve been diving straight into our new topics. In geography, we’ve started planning our independent fieldwork and are already thinking about the questions we want to investigate about our local area. In PSHE, our theme of Me and My Relationships has sparked some thoughtful discussions about collaboration and respecting one another.

We’ve also been given our new positions of responsibility around school. From Reading Ambassadors and Class Mentors to Digital Leaders, Year 6 are already proving to be fantastic role models, helping to make our school a safe, welcoming and happy place for all.

Year 6 have been given their Reading Record so that they can begin logging their reading at home. These are checked every Friday. Next week, children will be given a school reading book. 

We are wishing the best of luck to anyone sitting a test this weekend. We know you will shine your light brightly and try your best! 

Have a restful weekend, 

Mrs Rayburn