Willow Class
Welcome to Willow Class (Year 4 and 5)
Willow Class is a warm and cosy classroom right in the heart of the school. The space itself brilliantly reflects the children’s stage of their time here at Twyford St Mary’s. When they first arrive in Willow, they are well into their journey through KS2, are establishing their own individual voices and styles, and are finding their feet as the more senior members of the school.
Our classroom leads onto The Orchard and library on one side, and is next to the Headteacher’s office, giving the children a real sense of their progression through the school. Its location by the library means Willow is naturally a hub for all things literature! We have a large display space which we use for showcasing our writing projects, and our Reading Corner is refreshed regularly to tie in with the term’s themes and topics.
Katherine Whitehead
How it works
Willow is a unique class in the school as it is the only one where two partial year groups come together. Selection for which Year 4s are in Willow rather than Sycamore is done very carefully each year with a close eye on the overall mix of learning styles, needs for greater depth and support, and – of course – friendship groups.
There are some special events for Willow Class that often stand as highlights in the year (or two for the lucky!) the children spend with us. We have a Willow Class choir and have been privileged to sing at the Cathedral on a number of occasions. The Willow Year 4s will go on their first residential trip to Stubbington whilst they are with us, and the Year 5s will enjoy their swimming lessons, which will begin in Spring 2.
Year 5 benefits from dedicated time in the Spring term – when Year 4 are on residential and doing Listen2Me – to have masterclasses on specific Year 5 skills (particularly trickier Maths topics!). Year 4 benefits from dedicated time – when Year 5 are swimming and doing Listen2Me – to have times tables masterclasses to prepare them for their MTC check and to introduce longer reading texts as great preparation for Year 5.
Meet the teachers
Miss Whitehead
Willow Class teacher, Katherine Whitehead has been teaching since 2019 predominantly working with Key Stage 2 children. She studied English and History at University and has a confessed ‘huge’ passion for both history and creative writing. She worked as a 1:1 LSA for a year before moving into teaching. She loves running and keeping active and brings this energy as well as her passions and experiences into the classroom every day.
Miss Garrett
Willow Class LSA, Olivia Garrett, has been a Learning Support Assistant for 6 years. She has a breadth of experience across both KS1 and KS2 and a flair for both art and history. As well as being a constant support in the classroom, Olivia loves getting involved with our enhanced curriculum activities. Every year she throws herself into plays and productions and loves the residential trips which she supports with gusto!
Miss Larden
Willow Class LSA, Kate Larden, joined the school in 2023 as an LSA and works with Years 4 and 5 in Willow Class.
Staying in touch
We have regular touch points across the school year to keep families informed of your child’s progress, including parents’ evenings, in-class events, and meet-the-teacher sessions.
I am always happy to talk to parents or carers about any aspects of your child’s learning or well-being and if you have any quick questions or pertinent information you want to share about your child, you can usually find me on the playground at pick-up. If I can please ask that you wait until I have ensured all children are safely on their way home, then we will be free for a quick chat!
For any other concerns, or if you would like a meeting to discuss any issues, please contact the office and we can arrange a phone call or a meeting.
Key days and dates
PE – Tuesdays and Wednesdays