Subject Summaries | News & Events | Essential Information | Homefield Prep | Sutton

Art & DT

Well done to all the boys who are now coming to the finishing point in all their projects. There has been plenty of paint, sawdust, and ink thrown around the rooms recently. Parents should expect to see the following coming home to them soon: Handmade picture frames, Japanese bento boxes, handheld maze games, and oil paint portraits.

Computing

The boys have been coding in Scratch, Python, and 2code, creating podcasts and blogs, creating desktop publications, and exploring what makes smartphones smart.

English

Year 3 have been writing their own scripts using ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ as inspiration; they have been exploring different ways in which they can bring their characters to life. Year 4 have been continuing their exploration of varying types of poetry. Year 5 have been closely analyzing the themes and sub-themes presented in ‘The Girl of Ink and Stars’. Year 6 have developed their creative writing skills, applying a range of figurative language techniques in context. Year 7 are inching ever closer to solving Sherlock Holmes’ mystery of ‘The Speckled Band.’ Year 8 have been experimenting with different text types, including writing scripts for theatre or radio.

French

Lots of new skills being learnt across the Upper School this term! Year 6 are working their way through the tricky rules of the perfect tense, whilst Year 5 are perfecting their present tense verb conjugations. Year 7 are discussing the household chores they help with at home and the Year 8s are working towards their final speaking exam which takes place next week. Good luck boys and well done on your hard work so far!

Geography

In our Geography lessons, the boys have had lots of discussions focused upon environment and sustainability. Year 3 have been looking at their carbon footprint and discovering ways to reduce this. Year 4 have been focusing on tectonics and looking at the layers of the Earth! Year 5 have been reinforcing their knowledge of the water cycle and learning features of a river. Year 6 have been focusing on the coast and exploring how waves work! Year 7 are developing their existing knowledge of rivers with a focus on erosion, transportation, and deposition. Year 8 are revisiting tectonics and are working hard to prepare for their exams! A huge well done to all the boys who are not only working hard but are asking lots of thought-provoking questions about the topics they are exploring!

History

Year 8 are currently exploring the careers of English kings Edward I and Edward II, and how their attempts to conquer Scotland led to the Battle of Bannockburn. Year 7 have just commenced their studies of the English Civil wars, leading to a specific focus upon the Battle of Naseby. Year 5 have been creating Maya death masks which would have been made of jade (the second hardest stone) and the complex Maya calendar.

Maths

Lots of new mathematical skills being learnt across the Upper School over the last fortnight. Year 4 are learning how to calculate any angle within a regular polygon and apply this knowledge when calculating missing angles within composite shapes, whilst Year 5 are using formulae to calculate the area of an irregular quadrilateral. Year 6 are continuing to delve deeper into algebra and solve equations with two unknowns. Year 7 are exploring ratio, scale, and proportion and looking at ratio terms expressed in the form n:1 and vice versa. The Year 8s are working towards their final Common Entrance exams which take place after the half term. Good luck boys and well done on all your efforts and hard work so far!

P.E. & Games

As the sun began to shine this week so did the cricketing skills of Homefield boys. Year 3 played a super game against Aberdour with the Red team clear winners. Aarya was outstanding with the bat and Mikael bowled with pace and accuracy. The Blue team narrowly lost with some great play from Yohaan and Zain S. The Under 9 played on a very hot Thursday afternoon. The A team lost but bowled extremely well. The B team got a victory in style with Ted hitting 3 fours and a 6. The C team won by 50 runs with no wickets falling.

During the bank holiday, there was an outstanding individual sporting success as James from Year 4 won the IAPS Judo, an unprecedented result in such a high-level competition. More details will follow about James' victory.

The boys continue to compete in athletic medal events in PE in preparation for sports day and hopefully for future Olympic games!!

Science

In the labs, Year 3 have been investigating soil permeability, Year 4 are continuing to learn about food and nutrition, Year 5 have been exploring the solar system and investigating the properties of materials, and Year 6 are still getting to grips with building and using electric circuits. Half of Year 7 have been learning about health and disease, and the other half about changes of state, and Year 8 are coming to the end of their reproduction unit by learning about selective breeding and cloning.

STEAM

The boys have been continuing the work on their projects, Year 1 are assembling their polytunnels, Year 2 continuing their crest awards, Year 3 their fairground project, Year 4 making computer games, Year 5 on their carousel, and Year 6 studying evolution.

TPR

Year 4 have continued looking closely at David Hume and his views on commerce.

Year 5 have continued looking closely at John Mill and his views on utilitarianism.

Year 3 and 6 have begun learning what theology is and considering some biblical stories.