Oak Class 2025 - 2026

WELCOME TO OAK

Class teacher - Mr M Heathcote

Mr Parrish teaches PE on Tuesday and Thursday

Mrs Shapland and Mr Parrish teach Thursday afternoon

Learning Support Assistant - Mrs K Shapland

Follow us on Twitter  @WhitegateOak

Oak class is the final chapter in your journey at Whitegate. In Oak you will have every opportunity to shine and demonstrate just how much you have grown along your Whitegate journey. You are the role models that everyone else in the school community looks to. It is you who we are looking to for how to treat each other as we would wish to be treated. I am excited for all that is in store for us this year! It will be a year of challenges and successes. A year where, together, we can strive to be the very best we can be to reach the God-given potential that we all have. I look forward to growing our confidence, maturity and most importantly, wisdom.

Our proposed plan

I am very excited to be using the outstanding text ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ by the brilliant C.S.Lewis to help us explore the theme of conflict this term. Since hearing this story as a boy, I have always wanted to explore its themes and enjoy the incredible world it paints with a class so, Oak class, you are the lucky first group! This text will support us in exploring the complex world of human conflict and see how this has impacted Britain to this day. We will explore how Power and Religion are so often at the forefront of conflict.

As we come to finishing our maths work for this year, we will be exploring statistics, concluding our exploration of fractions, decimals and percentages and tackling problems using all the skills we have develop this year!

As we conclude our unit on the Exodus and Eucharist, we will then be carrying on with the story of Jesus with exploring the significance of the Ascension and Pentecost. We will also explore the allegory of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.’

Within our science, we will be exploring forces and the key scientific discoveries that have had a huge impact on the world around us. Will also be looking at animals and habitats and enjoying investigating and being hands-on with electricity.

Across the creative subjects, we will be exploring music created in the chaos of war, we will be learning about rationing in our DT, drawing landscapes especially trees, getting ready for Sports Day and prepare for the move to year 6 and for high school!

Reading

Reading is at the heart of successful learning and we will immerse ourselves in a range of quality texts over the course of the year. As Reading is a priority across all subjects, we regularly use a range of fiction and non-fiction texts in our guided and whole-class Reading lessons to help inform richer learning across the curriculum. In addition to this cross-curricular learning, a single day might also see us exploring the motivations of characters in our gripping class novels or simply allowing children time to develop a love of reading through our provision of high-quality fiction books. Wherever and whenever possible, we will prioritise developing the skills and positive attitudes towards Reading that will enable Oak class to become confident, informed and engaged learners. 

Home reading expectations are detailed below, but should your child express an interest in a particular author, series or genre, please let us know and we would be delighted to order books from our library partners free of charge.  Visits to your local library are also encouraged!

PE

PE days will be Tuesday and Thursday. Please can children come into school on those days already dressed in their PE kits.

Homework

Please ensure your child reads at home at least 4 times per week for 15-20 minutes.  In Years 5 and 6, they are expected to record their own reading in their Home – School contact books; parents just need to sign each time. 

TT Rockstars should be practised at least 3 times per week also for a minimum of 5 minutes each time.

For Year 6, Mental Maths will be sent home twice per week; both sheets will be given out on Friday. The first sheet will be due on Wednesday and the second on Friday.

Both Year 5 and Year 6 will also have a weekly SPaG sheet. This will be given out on Friday and is to be returned the following Wednesday.

All Oak children will be given their own personal spelling lists to practise at home.  These are linked to the statutory spelling lists for each year group available at the bottom of this page. There will also be a statutory spelling list for each half term: these will be different for Year 5 and Year 6.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using the Home-School book  We love to celebrate any out of school learning or achievements by our children so please email to the office or send in anything your child would like to share with us. 

Our proposed timetable is attached below.