Science

Why do we teach Science?

Science provides children with the opportunity to understand the world around them and provides an exciting context to apply many of the other skills and disciplines they learn at school.

The Science National Curriculum identifies three key areas in which the children should be taught: knowledge and understanding; working scientifically and the application of science.

Our school has a carefully planned Science curriculum that ensures children, from reception to year 6, cover these three aims in an accessible, creative and engaging way.

We believe that children learn Science best by doing and seeing and by providing the children with a range of opportunities to actively carry out different types of scientific enquiries.

We ensure that 'working scientifically' and 'application of knowledge' are an embedded into the heart of our Science curriculum. Our school endeavours to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to enjoy and make progress in Science.

In addition, the wider curriculum provides many opportunities to apply and deepen children’s understanding of science. Teachers are expected to plan for these opportunities in their wider teaching.

What do we teach?

The Science curriculum follows the year by year progression of knowledge and skills as set out in the National Curriculum.

Science overview

Science End Points

We believe that for the children to become Scientists, they not only need knowledge, but also the skills to work scientifically and opportunities for skills and knowledge to be applied. The Science lead has developed a curriculum plan that uses the Primary Assessment Network (PLAN) and Teaching and Assessment of Primary Science (TAPS) assessment materials. This provides clear guidance to all teaching staff on the progression and application of skills and knowledge expected for each topic, in each year group. Key vocabulary is identified for each science topic and it is expected that these keywords will be explored through teaching and be displayed on science working walls. Big questions and key ideas (and misconceptions) are included within the curriculum planning; these promote discussion, challenge thinking and ensure the full coverage of all five types of scientific enquiry.

Children have the opportunity to develop their science capital through extra curricular activities such as, after school science club, visitors and trips and special science learning days. Our promotion of outdoor learning and the children’s weekly forest school sessions, complement the science curriculum and provide a real context for the children to apply their knowledge and skills.

Although the majority of the science teaching (y1-6) is taught as a discrete subject, there is an expectation that all class teachers will promote and incorporate science across the wider curriculum. The implementation of this is monitored by the subject leader.