Science

INTENT:

The intention of our Science curriculum is to develop the knowledge and skills required to
provide the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of
biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s
future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge,
methods, processes and uses of Science. Our curriculum design promotes children’s
natural curiosity about scientific concepts which reflects the skills that children might and
will need in life and should represent a balance of careers that are traditional and also
careers that are related to a rapidly changing scientific world and have yet to be invented.
As children progress through school, they will become more proficient in independent
scientific enquiry.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Organisation and Curriculum Coverage

Teachers create a positive attitude to Science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in Science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Science involves the following;

• Science is delivered through lessons developed by Developing Experts. Each year group programme consists of 6 units of 6 lessons, which are taught for a minimum 1 hour per week. This promotes depth in the teaching and learning of each Science strands Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Every unit includes a strong focus on the skills of scientific inquiry through an investigative and exploratory approach that makes learning meaningful and memorable. Children will take away a deep understanding of both Science content and scientific method.
• Developing Experts provides a broad but comprehensive experience of primary Science that systematically covers the objectives of the National Curriculum for England.
• Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge.
• Science lessons focus on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that children learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. These types of scientific enquiry include: observing over time; pattern seeking; identifying, classifying and grouping; comparative and fair testing (controlled investigations); and researching using secondary sources.
• Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills,
• Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge, and find out answers for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom.
• Teachers ensure that the quality and variety of language that children hear and speak are key factors in developing their scientific vocabulary and articulating scientific concepts clearly and precisely.
• Activities should be planned to meet the needs of all pupils. Differentiation is achieved through careful planning and organisation. Learners should be supported and challenged to progress within Science. Differentiation enables all students to engage in the curriculum by providing learning tasks and activities that are tailored to their needs and abilities. Pupils are encouraged to work in groups or individually, where appropriate.
• We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.
• Regular events, such as Science Week or themed days and trips, allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.

IMPACT:

The successful approach to Science results in a fun, engaging, high-quality curriculum, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the Science curriculum. Through various workshops, trips and visits, children have the understanding that Science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving. Children at St Stephen’s Catholic Primary School overwhelmingly enjoy Science and this results in motivated learners who acquire sound scientific understanding in conjunction with the nine key skills as part of our curriculum offer.