Kestrels (Year 5/6) 2026 - 2027

Welcome to Kestrels

Kestrel Class is taught by Mr Daniel Carlile and Mrs Steph Dunn and is made up of a wonderful team of kind, caring and enthusiastic Year 5 and Year 6 children.

In Kestrel Class, we encourage one another to be the best we can be, embrace new opportunities and grow into confident, respectful and responsible global citizens. Our Christian values of Love & Kindness, Friendship, Respect, Justice, Freedom & Responsibility and Equality are at the heart of our classroom and guide the way we learn, work and care for one another.

Learning in Year 5 & Year 6

Year 5 and Year 6 represent an exciting and important stage in children's primary education. As our oldest pupils, children are encouraged to become increasingly independent, resilient and responsible learners, while continuing to receive the support and challenge they need to flourish.

Our classroom is a positive and ambitious learning environment where children are encouraged to ask questions, think deeply, embrace challenge and take pride in their achievements. We want children to recognise that effort, perseverance and learning from mistakes are all important parts of becoming successful learners.

As children progress through upper Key Stage 2, we help them consolidate strong foundations, deepen their knowledge and develop the confidence and independence they will need for the next stage of their education.

Different Routes, One Destination

As a mixed Year 5 and Year 6 class, our curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that every child follows a progressive and ambitious learning journey, building securely on prior learning and preparing them for what comes next.

At Bickerton, our approach is Different Routes, One Destination. Children may learn within different mixed-age class structures, but the curriculum expectations and intended outcomes for each year group remain consistent.

For our Year 5 children, this means that whether they are learning within our Year 4/5 Badger Class or our Year 5/6 Kestrel Class, they follow the same carefully sequenced Year 5 curriculum, working towards the same essential knowledge, vocabulary, skills and curriculum end points. Teachers work closely together to ensure consistency, progression and appropriate challenge across both classes.

Within Kestrel Class, Year 5 and Year 6 children also benefit from opportunities to learn together, collaborate, discuss ideas and challenge one another's thinking. Teaching is carefully planned so that each year group continues to build upon its own prior learning and work towards its age-related curriculum expectations.

Our mixed-age structure allows us to respond to children's individual strengths and needs while maintaining high expectations and ambition for everyone. The classroom a child is in does not determine the ambition of their curriculum.

Whatever route children take through our mixed-age classes, our destination remains the same: secure knowledge, strong progress, growing independence and readiness for the next stage of learning.

Bringing Learning to Life

In Kestrel Class, learning is about more than remembering facts. We want children to think deeply, ask questions, investigate ideas, make connections and understand why their learning matters.

Learning is brought to life through practical experiences, enquiry, discussion, creativity, outdoor learning, trips and visitors. Children are given opportunities to apply what they know in different contexts and to build upon their knowledge and understanding over time.

Through our LIVE curriculum, we encourage our Kestrels to become:

L – Life-Long Learners – building secure knowledge, embracing challenge and developing the resilience to work hard, push themselves and improve without giving up.

I – Immersive – being willing to try new things and make the most of experiences and opportunities that bring learning to life and broaden their horizons.

V – Valuing Diversity – learning to understand others, respecting different people, cultures, faiths and perspectives and recognising their place within a diverse local, national and global community.

E – Enquiring Minds – using their ability to imagine and concentrate, ask thoughtful questions, think critically, solve problems and make meaningful connections.

Growing Independence, Leadership and Responsibility

As children progress through upper Key Stage 2, we encourage them to take increasing responsibility for their learning, their choices and their contribution to our school community.

For our Year 5 children, these expectations are consistent whether they are learning in Badger Class or Kestrel Class. Children develop the confidence to organise themselves, work with increasing independence, respond positively to feedback and reflect on what they need to do next. We want them to recognise that successful learning is not about always finding things easy, but about being willing to try, persevere, reflect and improve.

As children move into Year 6, we build further upon these foundations. As the oldest pupils in our school, they are encouraged to demonstrate increasing independence, resilience and personal responsibility and to act as positive role models for younger children.

There are many opportunities throughout the year for children to take part in clubs, competitions, trips and special events, as well as opportunities to take on responsibilities and develop their confidence as pupil leaders. In Year 6, these opportunities increasingly enable children to lead, serve others, contribute to school life and prepare for the greater independence of secondary school.

Our Christian values are central to this growing independence. In particular, children explore what Freedom & Responsibility means in practice – understanding that having greater independence also means taking responsibility for their choices, their learning and the way they treat others.

We encourage our Kestrels to use their growing confidence and independence positively: to show Love & Kindness, build Friendship, demonstrate Respect, value Equality, seek Justice, and use their Freedom responsibly.

In doing so, we want every child to grow as a kind, confident, successful and responsible learner, with our Year 6 children leaving Bickerton ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the next stage of their education.

Useful websites to support and enrich learning:

Spelling in Year 6 (age 10–11) - Oxford Owl for Home

Spelling in Year 5 (age 9–10) - Oxford Owl for Home

Grammar & punctuation at primary school | Oxford Owl

Maths at Home - Oxford Owl for Home

All 40 pieces - BBC Teach

Activities for Kids (sciencebuddies.org)

Games | Childline

Keeping children safe online | NSPCC