For even the most confident of 10-year-olds the move into Year 6 can be a daunting time – but it really doesn’t have to be. Being in Year 6 truly is the most memorable time in your child’s primary education. 

What will my child do in Year 6? 

As in all other year groups,Year 6 follows statutory schemes of learning set down by the government. Children are assessed at the end of the year as to whether they have met the ‘expected’ national standard. 

1. Key Stage 2 SATs

Firstly, no guide to Year 6 would be complete without some mention of the SATs – the assessment tasks that all Year 6 pupils sit in May of each year. The results of these will determine whether your child has met the ‘expected’ level in English (reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar) and maths. 

There is no doubt that testing will become a focus during the year, and we will carry out a great deal of work to prepare for this. We aim to help your child get ready for these tests without them even realising it. While every school is different, we will strive to keep stress levels low by providing plenty of fun and valuable learning experiences.  

2. The wider curriculum

There are many other valuable subjects that are not assessed in the tests which many children excel in – and these are equally as important. In Year 6, the children always love the history topics. History schemes vary from school to school but many Year 6 classes will look at World War 2. Some schools explore the Ancient Maya and South American cultures and others will look at Islamic civilisations or other aspects of ancient history instead. 

The science topics in Year 6 have recently changed. In evolution and inheritance, your child will get to look at dinosaurs, fossils, genetics, Darwin, and so much more. Other topics include the circulatory system, microorganisms, and light and electricity. Where possible, your child will carry out a variety of scientific investigations during all of these topics, building on the skills they have already acquired. 

3. Moving on up

Of course, a big part of your child’s summer term in Year 6 will be preparing for the move to secondary school. This will involve going to their new schools (most likely Bede North) and some shared classroom transition activities. 

In Year 6, we find it extremely helpful when parents continue to support their children with reading, homework, times tables and projects, while also encouraging greater independence than in previous years. During this year, we place a strong emphasis on helping children understand that their own hard work and effort are what truly matter. 

Times table Rockstars: https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school 

My Maths: https://www.mymaths.co.uk/ 

SATs bootcamp: https://www.yearsix.co.uk/sats-boot-camp/ 

As ever, it is still important that your child continues to read, both alone and to you, as much as possible. It is never too late to develop a love of reading. We have a large library, library trollies and librarian jobs! It is important to spend time finding the best books for your child – speak to their teacher too, or a librarian, if this is proving a challenge.   

Some recommended reads can be found here: https://www.thereaderteacher.com/year6 

In the lead up to the SATs, we encourage parents to support their children where needed. By working alongside your child, you can gain a clearer understanding of where they may need the most support. We also encourage you to speak with us at different points throughout the year if you have any questions or concerns—we are always keen to help.  

In Year 6, we have some activity days to help enhance the curriculum for your child. We arrange a WW2 Day at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle which focuses on WW2 activities such as: Rationing, Reporting and WW2 memorabilia as well a visit around the museum. In Summer 2, as part of Healthy Living Week, we visit Whickham Thorns activity centre where your child will partake in activities such as: Lazer Tag, Snow Tubing and Vertical Climb.