Upper Key Stage 2

The Ambassadors (after Holbein) - Year 5/6 - acrylic on canvas

one of two works made in a Saturday workshop for pupils in Upper Key Stage 2 wanting to develop their gifts and talents with artist in residence Maggie Stewart celebrating our ethos of caring for ourselves 

Children aged 9-11 in years 5 and 6. Each class is named after an endangered British mammal.

The oldest children in school are split into three parallel classes, mixing year 5 and 6 pupils of all aptitudes and characters. Upper Key Stage 2 is led by Debbie McHugh.

We group the oldest children differently to younger phases for good reasons. Firstly, the age difference is less marked when children are 9-11 and we find they can play happily together. With transition to secondary school and the nature of Year 6 statutory testing, it would be unfair to split the 15 younger year 6 children from the other 30 children they will move up to High School with. Having a mix of ages in each class also means that when children move up to year 7 in Leftwich High (as the overwhelming majority choose to do), there will be year 8 pupils they know, easing transition into a larger school with a much wider peer group.

Towards the end of year 6 pupils are assessed against the National Expectation in Reading, Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS), Writing, Mathematics and Science. Children sit statutory tests in Reading, GPS and Mathematics; tests results are a scaled score 80-120 with 100 being the Nationally expected standard for end of year 6. Achievement in Writing and Science being teachers' assessments against detailed assessment criteria. 

Further information about the curriculum can be found in our Curriculum pages and in our Curriculum, Teaching and Learning document. 

Our oldest children are getting ready to move on to High School. Click here for some helpful guides for pupils and parents to help with transition. Written for children with additional educational needs, they will be helpful to any family whose child needs extra support at exciting but sometimes challenging period of their life.

Hedgehogs 

Debbie McHugh

BEd (Hons) Primary Education with specialisms in English and PE

Mrs McHugh joined us in 2017 when she relocated to the area from a large primary school in Ipswich where she led a team in Key Stage 2. Debbie leads PE and sport in school as well as teaching the Hedgehogs on Monday-Thursday.

Sharon Clowes

NVQ (level 3) Teaching Assistant Support

Miss Clowes supports pupils with special educational needs, disabilities and medical needs in Hedgehogs. She supports Mrs Wood with support for pupils' emotional literacy and managing feelings and has additional training in supporting children with diabetes. Sharron is also an invaluable member of our Mid-Day team supporting pupils over the lunch time. In her spare time Sharon makes the most amazing cakes!

Denise Redmond

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Physiology, MSc, PhD, PGCE Primary

Mrs Redmond teaches in Hedgehogs on a Friday as well as covering classes across UKS2. She co leads Humanities and also supports tuition throughout KS2.

Pine Martens 

Jess Tweedie

BA (Hons) Geography, PGCE Primary

Jess joined us in September 2019 having studied Geography at University of Cambridge and a PGCE at University of Cumbria. Jess is from a farming family and has a particular interest in the environment.  She works with the STEM team, co-leading Mathematics with Miss Watkins. Jess enjoys hill walking, gardening and badminton in her spare time. 

Red Squirrels 

Lucia Roberts

BA (Hons) German, PGCE Primary

Mrs Roberts joined team Kingsmead in 2014 as a volunteer before training on a School Direct PGCE with us and Manchester Metropolitan University. Lucia leads Modern languages and English as an additional language (EAL) with Miss Maynes. She studied German at the University of Liverpool and spent a year living in Dresden as part of her studies. Lucia teaches Red Squirrels on Monday-Tuesday. She enjoys painting in her spare time.

Karen Vine 

BEd (Hons) Primary Education with Computing

Mrs Vine came to Kingsmead from a large inner-city school in Leeds. Karen leads Computing and is the class teacher for the Red Squirrels on Wednesday through to Friday. She has worked alongside Mrs Watkins to learn and bring in new thinking, adapted from approaches in the Far East, to teaching Mathematics throughout the school.

Teaching support in UKS2

Charlotte Butterworth

Level 4 NVQ Child Development, Level 2 teaching assistant

Mrs Butterworth supports children with additional needs in Red Squirrels. She also supports children's personal, social and emotional development in the Rookery at lunchtime.  She has a wealth of experience with over fifteen years working with children in Brighton. 

Ros Casson

BA Hons Early Childhood Studies, PGCE Primary

Mrs Casson joined us in 2018, bringing with her fifteen years experience as a classroom teacher and head of key stage 2 in a local school. Ros works within the DSEN team supporting pupils with additional difficulties, is based in Red Squirrels and also provides tuition through the Pupil Premium.

Judith Ghader

BEd Middle Years (Hons) History and French

Mrs Ghader is the teaching assistant supporting the oldest children in school, across all three classes, particularly those with SEN and disabilities. Judith has a wealth of experience for pupils in their last years at school as she worked as a high school teacher for many years, including as head of department and head of year. This year she is based in Pine Martens.

Laura Gauld

BA (Hons) 

Mrs Gauld joined in 2020 as a mid day assistant alongside training to become a teaching assistant.