Curriculum Information 2026-27 D Group (Year 6)
Learning Through Topics The Junior School follows a one-week timetable and a topic-based curriculum. Learning across different subjects is often connected to the term’s topic, allowing pupils to explore ideas in depth and understand how knowledge and skills connect. Each topic begins by asking: What do we already know? What do we want to find out? Questions, discussion and discovery help shape the learning that follows. Trips, practical activities and first-hand experiences bring each topic to life, while pupils continue to develop essential knowledge and core skills across the curriculum.
Our approach to learning Every pupil brings different strengths, experiences and needs to their learning. At St Chris, we combine ambitious academic goals with deep learning, curiosity and meaningful engagement. We provide the right balance of support and challenge for each pupil, helping them to make progress, develop confidence and grow academically, socially and personally.
Our Year At A Glance
Autumn: Conflict – The Second World War Pupils explore why the Second World War began and what life was like for those who experienced it. They learn about evacuation, the Blitz, D-Day, rationing and life on the Home Front. Through English and art & design, pupils consider the experiences of people living through the conflict and respond to them creatively. Experience: Step back in time and experience a day in the life of wartime Britain in the 1940s.
Spring: Anglo-Saxons and Vikings Pupils journey through British history, exploring the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, the Viking invasions and the Norman Conquest. The topic culminates in a week-long residential visit to York, where pupils encounter history first-hand and deepen their understanding beyond the classroom.
Summer: Oceans Pupils explore the remarkable world beneath the waves, from the sunlit surface to the deepest parts of the ocean. Alongside the science of our oceans, they investigate the story of the Titanic, deep-sea mining, canals and global trade, as well as the continuing challenge of modern piracy.
Tracking Progress Teachers regularly observe and assess pupils’ learning, building a clear understanding of each pupil’s strengths, progress and areas for development. Half-termly meetings with the Head of the Junior School help identify where an individual pupil may benefit from additional support or greater challenge. Small classes and support from teaching assistants also allow for focused group work where needed. Families receive two academic reports each year, alongside a parent consultation every term and teachers are always available for individual meetings.
Homework Homework is meaningful, manageable and connected to pupils’ learning in school. Pupils are offered a selection of age-appropriate enrichment activities, typically choosing three or four to complete. These may involve creative projects, practical challenges or research, with some offering opportunities for the whole family to take part. During the summer term, D Group pupils begin to receive more traditional homework tasks, helping them prepare for the move to Senior School.
Weekly Hours Per Subject This graphic represents a typical week in D Group.
Maths 4 hours 50 mins
English 7 hours 40 mins
Science 1 hour 40 mins Activities 1 Hour
Humanities 2 Hours French 50 mins
Games 50 mins
Art & DT 1 hour 40 mins PE 50 mins
Music 50 mins Computing 50 mins
Swimming 30 mins
PSHE & RSE 50 mins Forest School
1 Hours 40 mins (each HT)
Core Learning
taught by class teachers English (including spelling, handwriting and guided reading) 7 Hours 40 mins
English is closely connected to our topic work, immersing pupils in rich content and providing inspiration for reading and writing. Pupils develop grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and paragraph structure, while using engaging texts to support their writing. Focus: Reading • Writing • Grammar • Vocabulary • Spelling
Maths 5 Hours 30 mins
We build confidence and fluency with number and place value while developing pupils’ ability to choose efficient strategies and apply mathematics to real-life situations. Key areas include fractions, decimals, percentages and algebra, followed by geometry, statistics and ratio. Focus: Fluency • Problem-solving • Reasoning • Real-life application
Science 1 Hour 40 mins
Pupils develop scientific knowledge alongside the skills needed to think critically and investigate the world around them. Topics include the human body, light, classification and electricity. Practical investigation encourages pupils to ask questions, make hypotheses, test ideas and justify their conclusions. Focus: Question • Predict • Investigate • Explain
Humanities (Geography/ History) 2 Hours
Pupils learn to think like historians and geographers: curious, analytical and reflective. In History, they investigate sources, artefacts and evidence. In Geography, they work with maps and scales and consider how people, innovation and the environment influence one another. Focus: Evidence • Analysis • Maps • Discussion • Debate
Creative, Personal and Technology taught by class teachers
Art & Design Technology 1 Hour 40 mins
Art and Design Technology are inspired by our topics. Pupils explore a range of media and techniques, including watercolour, acrylics, dyes, collage, understaning of colour, 3D structures and drawing. They also develop practical skills such as needlework and repairing clothes, using sketchbooks to experiment and develop their own style.
PSHE & RSE 50 mins
PSHE and RSE support pupils in staying safe, happy and healthy while developing positive and respectful relationships. Following the SCARF programme, Year 6 learning includes relationships, equality, mental health and wellbeing, online safety, puberty and reproduction, as well as preparation for Senior School and adolescence. Teaching takes place in a safe and inclusive environment, and pupils are never expected to share personal experiences. Parents are informed in advance about RSE content.
Computing 50 mins
Our “MR P” ICT curriculum supports students in developing essential digital skills through a creative approach. Using the DARES model (Design, Apply, Refine, Evaluate, Share), students plan, create, improve, reflect on and share their work. Areas covered include programming, animation, photography, data handling and presentations. In D Group students also learn more about coding using different software, debugging and creating podcasts with jingles.
Creative and Languages
taught by subject speclaist teachers
French 50 mins
Year 6 is a transitional year, preparing pupils for the more formal study of French in Senior School. Pupils develop core vocabulary, language structures and grammar, while continuing to build confidence in listening and speaking alongside reading and writing. Real-world learning: A pen-pal project with our partner school in France gives pupils a meaningful purpose for communicating in French.
Music 50 mins
Pupils develop their musical skills through singing, harmony, performance, composition, improvisation and listening. They create group performances using tuned percussion and keyboards, explore musical periods and develop their understanding of notation and Music Technology.
Learning beyond the classroom taught by subject speclaist teachers
Activities 50 mins
Throughout Years 5 and 6, pupils spend time in Senior School each week as part of their transition activities, where they become familiar with the environment and are taught by Senior School teachers. D Group pupils follow a carousel of subjects including: Computer Science • Food Technology • Pottery • Animal Care Pupils take each subject twice during the year, helping them develop new skills and confidence as they prepare for Senior School.
PE 50 mins
Pupils develop fundamental skills through: Fitness • Outdoor & Adventurous Activities • Creative Dance • Gymnastics • Tennis • Athletics They develop control, fluency and consistency, with opportunities to extend their learning through after-school practices and competitive fixtures.
Games 50 mins
Our programme develops sporting skills, tactical thinking and teamwork. Autumn: Football & Netball Spring: Rugby & Hockey Summer: Cricket & Rounders Pupils develop strategies for attack and defence while learning about exercise, fair play, sportsmanship and enjoyment.
Swimming 45 mins
Swimming focuses on developing stamina and confidence in the water. Across the year, pupils work towards swimming 200m using effective front and back crawl and refine their preferred stroke towards a proficient, pre-competitive level.
Forest School 1 Hour 40 mins (per half term)
Forest School encourages curiosity, resilience and a growing appreciation of the natural world. Through hands-on exploration and practical experiences, pupils develop their understanding of the world and use the outdoor environment to enrich learning across the curriculum, including art, English and geography.