This term, Year 5 have been exploring the big enquiry question: What makes a great leader?
After studying Ernest Shackleton and his incredible Antarctic expedition, we travelled back in time to the Tudor period to investigate a very different style of leadership.

The Tudors and Their Impact on Ipswich

We have begun by discovering who the Tudors were and why they were such an important part of British history. We learned about their influence on our local area and explored how Tudor life and decisions shaped the town of Ipswich. The children were fascinated to find out that many buildings and traditions around us today have Tudor origins.

Life in Tudor England

To understand leadership, we have looked closely at what everyday life was like for Tudor people. We compared the experiences of rich and poor families, explored food, clothing and entertainment, and thought about what challenges people faced at the time. This helped us build a picture of the society that Tudor monarchs had to lead.

Henry VIII and the Church

A key part of our enquiry we are focusing on Henry VIII, one of the most famous Tudor leaders. We are learning about his personality, his six wives, and—most importantly—his decision to break away from the Catholic Church. We discussed how his choices changed the country forever and what they reveal about his leadership.

Reading Treason

As part of our English lessons, we have been reading Treason by Berlie Doherty. This exciting historical novel helped us step into the world of Henry VIII’s court. It gave us a deeper understanding of what life was like for the people who lived and worked around the king, and it has inspired lots of brilliant discussions in class.

Tudor Portraits and Symbolism

We also became art historians! By studying Tudor portraits, we learned how rulers used symbolism—objects, colours, and poses—to show power, wealth and importance. The children then created their own Tudor-style portraits, carefully choosing symbols to represent qualities of great leadership.