What’s happening in Year 6 – Week 6

This week our RE lessons have been alive with lively discussion and thoughtful reflection. To launch our new enquiry, the children explored a gallery of images showing monks and nuns from communities around the world. Working in pairs they recorded first impressions on colourful Post‑its, then grouped their ideas to wonder together about daily life behind the cloister walls.

Building on this curiosity, each team chose one real monastic community to profile. Research folders filled with fascinating facts about history, routines and values, ready to showcase in a class display. Alongside the inquiry the children practised our KS2 Talk Target – ‘Build on, challenge or clarify’. They used sentence starters such as “To add to that…” and “I’m not sure because…” to deepen one another’s thinking and to keep every voice in the conversation.

The week culminated in a structured debate: “Does Christianity highlight the importance of living in community?” Pupils spoke with confidence, cited evidence from their research and responded respectfully to counter‑arguments. It was heart‑warming to see how listening carefully first led to clearer, more persuasive speaking.

Throughout, the class showed real maturity: distributing roles, managing time and encouraging quieter members to contribute. Their curiosity about faith traditions blossomed, but even more impressive was the growth in collaboration, empathy and critical thinking. Next week we will switch focus to contemporary examples of community service and ask how we, too, might live out shared values in everyday life. Well done, Year 6 – your thoughtful voices made us proud!