Year 5 Science report comments
Year 5 science covers life cycles, human development, properties and changes of materials, Earth and space, and forces. These comments describe knowledge and working scientifically at three levels of attainment.
15 example comments across 3 levels, plus 6 next steps. Type a name below to fill in every comment.
Working at greater depth / exceeding expectations
[Pupil] has a thorough understanding of forces. They can explain gravity, air resistance and friction and describe how levers and pulleys let a smaller force have a bigger effect.
[Pupil] can explain the movement of the Earth, Moon and planets, and uses this to describe day and night with confidence.
[Pupil] understands reversible and irreversible changes and can explain how mixtures are separated by filtering, sieving and evaporating.
[Pupil] plans investigations independently, controls variables carefully and takes repeat readings to check their results.
[Pupil] can compare the life cycles of mammals, amphibians, insects and birds, and describe how humans change as they develop to old age.
Working at the expected standard
[Pupil] understands that gravity pulls objects towards the Earth and is learning to explain the effects of friction and air resistance.
[Pupil] can describe how the Earth moves around the Sun and is learning how this causes day and night.
[Pupil] knows that some materials dissolve and some changes can be reversed. Explaining how to separate mixtures is their next step.
[Pupil] is developing their investigation skills and can plan a fair test with some support.
[Pupil] can describe the life cycle of some animals and is learning to compare them.
Working towards the expected standard
[Pupil] is learning about forces and can describe pushes and pulls. They enjoyed our practical investigations.
[Pupil] is beginning to understand that the Earth orbits the Sun. Looking at the Moon together at home will help bring this to life.
[Pupil] is learning to sort materials by their properties and has started to explore dissolving.
[Pupil] takes part in investigations with enthusiasm and benefits from support to plan and record them.
[Pupil] is building their scientific vocabulary and growing in confidence when explaining their ideas.
Year 5 science next steps
Finish a comment with one specific, achievable target. Parents find these the most useful line in a report.
- Explain the effects of gravity, air resistance and friction.
- Describe how the movement of the Earth causes day and night.
- Explain the difference between reversible and irreversible changes.
- Choose the right method to separate a mixture.
- Control variables and take repeat readings in investigations.
- Compare the life cycles of different animals.
How to use these comments
Replace [Pupil] with the child's first name and adjust any detail that does not fit your class or school style. These comments are designed to be a solid starting point, not a finished product. The best report comments are the ones where you have added something specific about that child: a particular achievement, a moment you remember, a challenge they have worked through.
If you want to generate comments that are already specific to your pupils, Staffroom does exactly that. Add your notes about each child, choose a tone, and the comments it generates will be genuinely personal rather than adapted from a template.