It’s been another fantastic week in Year 6, filled with exciting opportunities and impressive achievements. Some of our pupils had the chance to receive expert coaching in hockey from Cliftonville Hockey Club and cricket from Kent Cricket Club. These sessions will continue throughout the term, offering a brilliant chance to develop skills and confidence in sport.

This week also marked the children’s first experience with the structure of the KS2 SATs tests, which they will sit in May 2026. We were incredibly proud of how maturely they approached these familiarisation tests, showing real determination and the unmistakable Upton spirit.

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📚 English

Due to the SATs familiarisation, it was a shorter week for English lessons. However, the children made excellent progress in our class text, Viking Boy, deepening their understanding of the key characters who will shape Gunnar’s journey.

In writing, the children stepped into Gunnar’s shoes, exploring the dilemma: Should he avenge his father’s death or stay with his mother? Their responses were thoughtful and imaginative. Next week, they’ll begin planning and writing their own Viking quest stories, drawing on everything they’ve learned so far.

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➗ Maths

This week’s maths focus was algebraic equations, supported by the children’s prior knowledge of BIDMAS. Alongside this, they completed three SATs-style maths papers to build familiarity with the format and expectations.

Looking ahead, we’ll be diving into three weeks of fractions—a crucial area for success in the SATs and a strong foundation for the KS3 curriculum.

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🌍 Thematic Curriculum

Our Viking-themed topic launched with great enthusiasm! The children explored who the Vikings were, where they came from, and why they invaded the British coastline. One fascinating fact they discovered: when Vikings arrived, they often upturned their longboats to create homes, laying the foundation for the iconic Viking longhouses.

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📘 Homework Reminders

Please support your child with the following weekly tasks:

• Reading: Aim to read together at least three times a week.
• Times Table Rock Stars: Play three times weekly to build fluency.
• Accelerated Reader: Children have a ZPD to guide book choices. After finishing a book, they should complete a quiz—either at school or at home.
  👉 Accelerated Reader Login
• Spelling: Practise five words using the Look, Say, Cover, Write method.
• Mathletics: Homework has been set and is due by next Friday.
• Thematic Homework: Choose from the homework menu and complete tasks in the provided book.

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We hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. Thank you for your continued support!

– The Year 6 Team