Science

Statement of Intent for Science

Science should inspire curiosity in our pupils and nurture a desire to question, explore and understand the world around them.  It should help them to develop concise and accurate explanations, give them the ability to test scenarios and encourage critical thinking. To recognise that to fail is part of the scientific process and that from this comes more opportunities to investigate. These are vital skills which will support our children with whatever they want to pursue later in life. 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.

Why do we teach it the way we do?

Our school and pre-school has a science curriculum that ensures children up 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; by providing the children with a range of opportunities to actively carry out different types of scientific enquiries, we ensure that by working scientifically and applying the knowledge gained, is embedded within the science and EYFS curriculum.

Implementation

What do we teach? What does this look like?

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

Key ideas (and misconceptions) are included within the curriculum planning; these promote discussion, challenge thinking and ensure all pupils are able to work scientifically.

Impact

What will this look like?

By the time children leave our school they will:

We want children to enjoy and value science and appreciate the range of skills it will provide them with. An essential part of the children becoming scientists is promoting curiosity and encouraging the children to ask questions.

·      Our expectation is that children will be able to develop their own questions, plan different types of enquiries to answer those questions and communicate their findings in a variety of ways.

·      Children will understand that part of science is failing and that problem solving helps us to overcome these failures.

·      Children will have a clear understanding of how scientists both past and present have contributed to society's understanding of the world around them.

·      They will understand the role that science and other STEM subjects play in solving some of the key problems facing the world, such as climate change.

Pupils are provided with a range of opportunities to showcase and communicate their ideas, research and findings.

Assessment is carried out by holding pupil discussions about their learning and scrutiny of books by the subject leader to check for progress.

“We know good science happens in our school when…” 

1.     We are excited by and understand the importance of science.

2.     We see ourselves as scientists - we ask questions, make observations, experience, discover and develop new skills.

3.     We get to be creative, curious and understand the need for us to develop a caring and responsible attitude for the wider world.

4.     We can make connections between what we have learnt in science to other topics.

5.     We can apply our knowledge, vocabulary and skills to solve a range of problems and questions both in and out of the classroom.

6.     We are encouraged and given time to share our ideas and findings and to learn from our mistakes.

7.     Our lessons are engaging and carefully sequenced to allow us all to have the opportunity to achieve and make progress in science.