Coming next for Year 6

English 29 ideas

Speedy, neat handwritingWriting legibly, fluently and faster, choosing letter shapes and when to join, and choosing the right writing tool for the task
Using a thesaurusUsing a thesaurus to find more precise words, and the first 3 or 4 letters of a word to check spelling and meaning in a dictionary
Figurative languageSimiles, metaphors and personification, what they mean, and the effect they have on the reader
Synonyms and antonymsWords with similar and opposite meanings (big, large, little), and choosing the best one
Prefixes and suffixesSuffixes such as –cious, –tious, –able, –ible, –ant, –ent, –ance and –ence, the rules for adding them, hyphens after some prefixes (co-ordinate, re-e…
HomophonesHomophones and other often-confused words such as advice and advise, practice and practise, and stationary and stationery
Spelling patternsThe Years 5–6 spelling rules from English appendix 1, including silent letters (knight, psalm, solemn), and words whose spelling needs to be learnt s…
Statutory spelling wordsLearning the Years 5 and 6 statutory word list from English appendix 1
Colons, semicolons and dashesUsing semicolons, colons and dashes to mark the boundary between independent clauses, a colon to introduce a list, and semicolons within lists
Perfect tensesUsing the perfect form of verbs to show time and cause (had seen, has finished), including to link ideas across paragraphs (he had seen her before)
Formal and informal languageThe difference between informal and formal vocabulary (find out – discover, ask for – request) and structures (question tags; subjunctive forms such…
Hyphens and bullet pointsUsing hyphens to avoid ambiguity (man-eating shark, re-cover), and punctuating bullet points consistently
Word classesRecognising nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, determiners and conjunctions, and using these terms accurately when talking ab…
The subjunctiveRecognising and using subjunctive forms in very formal writing and speech, such as If I were you or Were they to come
Cohesion and ellipsisLinking ideas across paragraphs with repetition of a word or phrase, adverbials such as on the other hand, in contrast and as a consequence, and elli…
Subject, verb and objectIdentifying the subject and object of a sentence, and making the subject and verb agree in singular and plural
RetrievalFinding, recording and presenting information from non-fiction, skimming and scanning to locate it in books structured in different ways
SummarisingSummarising the main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying the key details that support them, and précising longer passages
Author's word choiceHow authors use language, including figurative language, and the effect on the reader, and how language, structure and presentation contribute to mea…
Themes and comparing booksSpotting themes and conventions in and across books, such as courage or friendship, and making comparisons within and across books
Words in contextChecking a book makes sense, exploring the meaning of words in context, and asking questions to understand it better
Write your own storyDescribing settings, characters and atmosphere, using dialogue to show character and move the action on, and learning from how authors develop charac…
Persuasive writingMaking a case for a reader: choosing the form and the audience, giving reasons and evidence, and choosing persuasive grammar and vocabulary
Writing a reportPresenting information with headings, subheadings, bullet points and tables, using expanded noun phrases to give detailed information concisely, and…
Formal letters and emailsChoosing a formal or informal tone for the reader, and writing letters of request, complaint and thanks in the right register
Editing your writingImproving vocabulary, grammar and punctuation, keeping tense consistent, checking subject–verb agreement and register, and proofreading carefully
Planning your writingIdentifying the audience and purpose, choosing the right form, using similar writing as a model, and noting and developing ideas from reading and res…
Learning poems by heartLearning a wider range of poems by heart and performing them with intonation, tone and volume so an audience understands
Having a debateGiving and justifying opinions, considering other viewpoints and building on them, challenging views courteously, and presenting your case with reaso…

Feelings & Friendships 29 ideas

When you feel worriedWhat worry feels like and things that help
Handling angerNoticing anger and safe ways to let it out
Mistakes help us learnA growth mindset, and trying again
Gratitude and happinessNoticing good things and what helps us feel good
Why sleep mattersWhat happens while we sleep and good bedtime habits
Coping with changeMoving house, a new school and other big changes
MindfulnessNoticing the present moment with calm attention
Self-esteem and body image (KS2 / KS3)Feeling good about yourself and seeing past edited images
Loss and grief (KS2 / KS3)Understanding grief and supporting someone who is grieving (handle with care)
Sorting out argumentsCalm ways to solve disagreements
Respecting differencesCelebrating differences and treating everyone fairly
TeamworkWorking together, taking roles and sharing ideas
Bullying: what to doRecognising bullying, including online bullying, and how to get help
Online friendshipsHow online friends differ from real-life friends, and staying safe
Peer pressure (KS2 / KS3)Saying no, making your own choices and supporting friends
Being more independentTaking on responsibility step by step
Starting secondary schoolGetting ready for the move and what to expect
How bodies change in pubertyThe physical and emotional changes of puberty, including periods, explained factually and before puberty begins
Periods explainedWhat periods are, why they happen and how to manage them (handle with care)
Personal hygiene as you growWashing, deodorant and looking after a changing body
Hormones and emotions (KS2 / KS3)How puberty can affect feelings and moods
Setting goalsChoosing a goal, making a plan and sticking with it
Making good decisionsThinking through choices and their consequences
ResilienceBouncing back when things are hard
LeadershipWhat makes a good leader and how to lead kindly
Giving clear instructionsExplaining how to do something step by step
Body language and tone (KS2 / KS3)How we say things matters as much as what we say
Phone and video call skills (KS2 / KS3)Calling politely, leaving messages and video-call manners
Prejudice and being an upstander (KS2 / KS3)Spotting prejudice and discrimination and safely speaking up

Technology 27 ideas

Controlling things with codePrograms that control or simulate physical systems, with inputs, sensors and outputs
Kindness onlineBeing kind online, cyberbullying and what to do
Is it real? Checking online contentBeing discerning about digital content: adverts, edited images, AI-generated pictures and deepfakes, and finding reliable sources
Healthy screen timeBalancing screens with sleep, play and people, and avoiding harmful content online
Social media basicsHow social media works, age limits, fake accounts and staying safe
Online gaming safetyChat, strangers, in-game purchases and taking breaks
Your digital footprint (KS2 / KS3)How what we post stays online and shapes our reputation
Cyberbullying: spot it, stop it, report it (KS2 / KS3)Recognising online bullying, responding and getting help
How planes flyLift, thrust, drag and weight
Who owns that picture? Copyright online (KS2 / KS3)Respecting other people's work and giving credit
How bridges stand upBeams, arches, suspension bridges and strong shapes
How a bicycle worksGears, brakes, and how pedalling moves you
How clocks workPendulums, gears and keeping time
How phones and wifi workRadio waves, signals and connecting to networks
How GPS finds youSatellites and working out where you are
How electric cars workBatteries, motors and charging
How a fridge keeps food coldHow cooling works
Circuits in productsUsing electrical systems in products, such as series circuits with switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors
Programming and controlling productsUsing computing to program, monitor and control products
What is AI?How AI learns from examples, and what it can and cannot do
Using AI wiselyChecking AI answers, privacy and fairness, and remembering that AI chatbots are not friends or counsellors
RobotsHow robots sense, decide and move
3D printingHow 3D printers build objects layer by layer
Solar panels and wind turbinesHow renewable energy technology works
How chatbots work (KS2 / KS3)How AI chatbots predict words and why they sound clever
AI makes mistakes (KS2 / KS3)Why AI can be confidently wrong and how to check its answers
Spotting AI images and deepfakes (KS2–KS4)Clues that a picture, video or voice was made by AI

Money & Life Skills 24 ideas

Budgeting pocket moneyPlanning how to spend, save and share money with a simple budget
Spotting scamsCommon scams, too-good-to-be-true offers, fake accounts and AI voice scams, and keeping money safe online
How adverts persuade usThe tricks adverts use and thinking before we buy
Value for moneyComparing prices, unit prices and deals to make smart choices
Inflation explainedWhy prices rise over time and what that means for what money buys
Paying by card and onlineHow cards, phones and online payments work, and staying safe
Money and emotions (KS2–KS4)How feelings affect spending, and making calm money choices
Run a lemonade standCosts, prices, customers, profit and loss from running a small business
How a business worksMaking and selling, costs, profit and how businesses grow
Supply and demandWhy prices rise when many people want something and fall when there is plenty
Marketing and brandsHow businesses tell people about products and build a brand
Where things are madeEconomic activity and trade links: how products are made in different countries and travel to our shops
Being an entrepreneurSpotting a problem, turning an idea into a product and testing it with customers
Careers of the futureNew kinds of jobs, the skills they need and exploring what you love
Team roles (KS2 / KS3)The different roles in a team and playing to strengths
Job stereotypes (KS1–KS3)Why any job can be for anyone
Skills employers want (KS2 / KS3)Teamwork, communication, problem-solving and reliability
Planning my dayMaking a simple plan, to-do lists and managing time
Kitchen safety and simple cookingCooking safely and hygienically: clean hands, using tools safely and following a recipe step by step
Reading a recipe and measuringMeasuring ingredients in g, kg, ml and l on scales and jugs, adding and subtracting amounts, and scaling a recipe up or down for more or fewer people
Using public transportReading timetables, planning a journey and travelling safely
Fixing things safelySimple tools, using them safely and mending everyday things
Doing the laundry (KS2 / KS3)Sorting, washing and caring for clothes
Sewing on a button (KS2 / KS3)Simple repairs with a needle and thread

Maths 22 ideas

Rounding and estimatingRounding any whole number to the accuracy needed, using estimation to check answers, and solving problems where answers must be rounded to a given ac…
Negative numbersUsing negative numbers in context and calculating intervals across zero
Factors, multiples and primesFinding common multiples of two numbers, and using common factors, common multiples and prime numbers in calculations (e.g. finding a common denomina…
Place valueReading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers up to 10,000,000, the value of each digit, and solving number problems
Long multiplication and divisionLong multiplication of numbers up to four digits by a two-digit number, and long and short division of numbers up to four digits by a two-digit numbe…
Order of operationsThe order of operations: brackets first, then multiplying and dividing, then adding and subtracting (working left to right when operations have equal…
Multi-step problemsSolving multi-step word problems with all four operations in context, choosing which operations and methods to use and why
Mental maths strategiesMental calculations with mixed operations and large numbers
Fractions: adding and subtractingSimplifying fractions using common factors, giving fractions the same denominator using common multiples, comparing and ordering fractions including…
Fractions: multiplying and dividingMultiplying pairs of proper fractions and simplifying the answer (e.g. 1/4 × 1/2 = 1/8), dividing a proper fraction by a whole number (e.g. 1/3 ÷ 2 =…
DecimalsThe value of each digit in numbers with up to three decimal places, multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000 to three decimal places, multiplyin…
PercentagesRecalling and using equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages, finding percentages of amounts (e.g. 15% of 360), and using percentages to compare
Ratio and proportionThe relative sizes of two quantities (e.g. 2 cups of flour for every 3 eggs), scale factors with similar shapes, and unequal sharing and grouping usi…
Area and perimeterCalculating the area of parallelograms and triangles, knowing when a formula can be used, and seeing that shapes with the same area can have differen…
VolumeCalculating, estimating and comparing the volume of cubes and cuboids in cm³ and m³ (and other units such as mm³ and km³), and knowing when a formula…
AnglesFinding unknown angles in triangles, quadrilaterals and regular polygons, and angles at a point, on a straight line and vertically opposite
CoordinatesDescribing positions on the full coordinate grid (all four quadrants), and drawing, translating and reflecting simple shapes in the axes
Converting unitsConverting length, mass, volume and time between smaller and larger units using decimals up to three places, solving measure problems, and converting…
Properties of shapesDrawing 2D shapes with given lengths and angles, building 3D shapes and making nets, comparing and classifying shapes by their properties, and naming…
Pie chartsReading and drawing pie charts and line graphs, and using them to solve problems
The meanCalculating the mean as an average and explaining what it tells you
First steps in algebraUsing simple formulae, describing and continuing linear number sequences, writing missing-number problems with letters, finding pairs of numbers that…

Science 21 ideas

Planning enquiries and controlling variablesPlanning different types of enquiry, recognising and controlling variables, measuring accurately and repeating readings, using results to plan furthe…
Recording results: graphs and keysRecording data with scientific diagrams, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs, and reporting conclusions and how much to…
Diet, exercise and lifestyleHow diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle affect the way the body works
How the brain worksNerves, the brain, and how we learn, remember and react
Germs and the immune systemHow germs spread, how the body fights them and how vaccines help
Ocean lifeCreatures of the ocean zones and how they survive
Endangered animalsWhy animals become endangered and how people protect them
Classifying living thingsClassifying living things, including micro-organisms, plants and animals, into broad groups by their observable characteristics, and giving reasons f…
How we seeLight travelling in straight lines, objects being seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye, and why shadows have the same shape as th…
Colours of lightRainbows, prisms and how white light splits into colours
Circuit symbols and voltageDrawing circuits with recognised symbols, how the number and voltage of cells change a lamp's brightness or a buzzer's volume, and explaining why com…
How electricity reaches our homesPower stations, the national grid and renewable energy
Stars and constellationsWhat stars are, how they shine and how to find constellations
How rockets workThrust, gravity and how rockets reach space
Life on the space stationHow astronauts live, eat, sleep and work in orbit
Exploring MarsRovers, the planet's features and what a mission to Mars needs
Galaxies and black holesWhat galaxies and black holes are, explained simply
InheritanceHow living things produce offspring of the same kind that vary and are not identical to their parents
Evolution and adaptationHow living things have changed over time, how fossils tell us about life millions of years ago, and how adaptation may lead to evolution
Micro-organismsMicro-organisms as one of the broad groups of living things (bacteria and microscopic fungi such as yeasts and moulds), how they are classified, and…
Using a microscopeHow microscopes work and how to observe tiny things

Healthy Me 20 ideas

Reading food labelsUsing food labels to apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet: sugar, salt and fat
Smoking, alcohol and drugs: the factsHow drugs, including smoking, vaping and alcohol, and lifestyle affect the way the body works, and making safe choices
Vaping: the facts (KS2–KS4)What vapes contain, the risks and the law
Knife skills: bridge and clawCutting food safely with the bridge and claw grips
Water safetyStaying safe near water and performing safe self-rescue in different water situations
Cycling safelyHelmets, hand signals and road rules for cyclists
Float to Live (KS2 / KS3)What to do if you fall into cold water
Walking to school on your own (KS2 / KS3)Planning a safe route and staying alert
Basic first aidCuts, burns, nosebleeds and when to get help
The recovery positionHelping someone who is unresponsive but breathing
Burns and scaldsCooling a burn and when to get help
Choking (KS2 / KS3)How to help someone who is choking
Asthma and allergic reactions (KS2 / KS3)Spotting an asthma attack or anaphylaxis and how to help
111 or 999? (KS2 / KS3)Choosing the right help for different emergencies
Warming up and stretchingWhy and how to warm up before exercise
Fair playWinning, losing and playing fairly
Rules of the gameHow rules make sports fair, from football to netball and cricket
The Olympic GamesThe history of the Olympics and its sports
Dance: creating and performingPerforming dances using a range of movement patterns, and improving your own performance
Outdoor and adventurous activitiesOutdoor and adventurous challenges such as orienteering, alone and in a team

Thinking Skills 19 ideas

Logic puzzlesReasoning step by step to solve puzzles
Patterns and codesSpotting patterns and cracking simple codes
Shape puzzlesRecognising 3D shapes in different orientations and from 2D drawings, building shapes from nets, and sorting and fitting 2D shapes together in tangra…
Strategy gamesThinking ahead and planning moves
Fact or opinion?Telling statements of fact from opinions, and giving reasons for your views
Think like a scientistAsking questions, choosing the right type of enquiry, fair tests, making predictions, and drawing conclusions from results
Spotting fake newsChecking sources and spotting misleading stories
Tricky pictures and graphsHow images and graphs can mislead
Who made this and why? (KS2 / KS3)Thinking about who made a post, advert or article, and what they want
Memory tricksWays to remember things better
Focus and concentrationHow attention works and how to focus
Mind maps and notesOrganising ideas on paper
How to revisePlanning, practice tests and spacing out learning
Retrieval practice (KS2–KS4)Testing yourself to make memories stronger
Solve it step by stepBreaking big problems into small steps
Brainstorming ideasWays to come up with lots of ideas
Be an inventorSpotting problems and inventing solutions
Design thinking (KS2–KS4)Understanding a problem, generating ideas and testing solutions
Creative thinking challengesComing up with many original ideas and improving them

History 16 ideas

Crime and punishment through timeHow crime and punishment changed from the Anglo-Saxons to today, tracing a theme across periods
Kings and queens: the changing power of monarchsHow monarchs' power changed, with case studies such as King John and Magna Carta, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria
How we know about the pastHow historians find out about the past from different sources, asking good questions about change, cause and significance, and noting connections and…
The MayaMaya civilization around AD 900: cities, writing, maths and astronomy, and how it contrasts with Britain at the same time
Early Islamic civilisationEarly Islamic civilization, including Baghdad around AD 900, the House of Wisdom and its discoveries, and how it contrasts with Britain at the same t…
The Kingdom of BeninBenin (West Africa) c. AD 900–1300: its city walls, the Oba, crafts and trade, and how it contrasts with Britain at the same time
The AztecsAztec cities, farming and daily life
The Silk RoadHow traders linked Europe and Asia and shared goods and ideas
The Second World WarThe Blitz, evacuees, rationing and the Battle of Britain, and how the war affected Britain, as a turning point in British history
Isaac NewtonGravity, light and the laws of motion
Marie CurieRadioactivity and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize
Ada LovelaceThe first computer programmer
Charles DarwinCharles Darwin's voyage, how offspring vary, and his ideas about how living things adapt and evolve over time
The printing pressHow printing changed how ideas spread
From telephone to smartphoneHow talking at a distance developed
The history of medicine (KS2 enrichment)From herbal remedies to vaccines and antibiotics: a first look at how medicine changed

World & Society 16 ideas

ChristianityWhat Christians believe, their special places, books and celebrations
IslamWhat Muslims believe, their special places, books and celebrations
JudaismWhat Jewish people believe, their special places, books and celebrations
HinduismWhat Hindus believe, their special places, books and celebrations
SikhismWhat Sikhs believe, their special places, books and celebrations
BuddhismWhat Buddhists believe, their special places and celebrations
Different ways of seeing the worldReligious and non-religious worldviews, and living together respectfully
Humanism and non-religious worldviewsHow people who are not religious find meaning and decide what is right
Children's rightsThe rights every child has and why they matter
Voting and electionsWhy we vote and how elections work
Volunteering and communityWays to help your community
The United NationsHow countries work together
Local councils and MPsWho runs our local area and the country, and how to have your say
What is fair?Thinking about fairness with puzzles and stories
Right or wrong?Simple moral dilemmas and giving reasons
What is happiness?Different ideas about what makes a good life

Earth & Geography 11 ideas

Using atlases, globes and digital mapsUsing maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping to find countries and describe the features studied
TsunamisHow tsunamis form and how warning systems help
CloudsTypes of cloud and what they tell us about the weather
Crystals and mineralsCrystals, gems and how minerals form
Energy resourcesWhere energy resources such as fossil fuels and renewables come from and how they are distributed around the world
Trade around the worldEconomic activity and trade links: how countries buy and sell goods and services
Saving energy and water at home (KS1 / KS2)Simple ways families can use less energy and water
My carbon footprint (KS2 / KS3)How everyday choices add up and small changes that help
StargazingSpotting planets, the Moon and constellations
Camping and outdoor skillsShelters, finding your way, staying safe and leaving no trace
Be a wildlife scientist (KS1–KS3)Surveying plants and animals in your school grounds or park

Arts & Music 11 ideas

Listening and remembering soundsListening with attention to detail and recalling sounds and patterns from memory
Great composersGreat composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, their music, and how music has changed over time
Performing togetherPlaying and singing in a group and solo with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
ArchitectureHow buildings are designed, and great architects in history
OrigamiFolding paper into shapes and animals
Build a model townPlanning and building a model from recycled materials
Weaving and knotsSimple weaving and useful knots
How animation worksFrames, flipbooks and stop motion
Making a comicPanels, speech bubbles and telling a story in pictures
Taking great photosFraming, light and telling a story with a picture
How films are madeScripts, filming, editing and sound

Languages 7 ideas

Stories and poems in FrenchEnjoying simple stories, songs and poems in French, understanding new words with help from a dictionary
French verbs: I, you, he, sheConjugating high-frequency verbs such as être, avoir and aller, and how French grammar is like and unlike English
Stories and poems in SpanishEnjoying simple stories, songs and poems in Spanish, understanding new words with help from a dictionary
Spanish verbs: I, you, he, sheConjugating high-frequency verbs such as ser, tener and ir, and how Spanish grammar is like and unlike English
British Sign Language basicsFingerspelling and first signs in BSL
Writing systems of the worldAlphabets, characters and scripts from different cultures
How languages are relatedLanguage families and words that share roots

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