Science

Science Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Brentnall Community Primary, we believe that a quality Science curriculum should develop children’s scientific knowledge, conceptual understanding, secure understanding of the world through scientific enquiry and the ability to ask and answer scientific questions. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. We aim to inspire an appreciation of all aspects of science, including biology, chemistry and physics.  We work hard to provide a rich and varied curriculum to challenge and meet the needs of our children. We believe all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. We recognise the importance of learning and to nurture a culture where children take pride in their work.

All children are encouraged to develop a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. As with all subject areas, we ensure that there are high expectations for all spoken language in our science lessons. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught should be reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. We actively encourage children to be respectful when questioning each other on their scientific discoveries.

Science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation, as well as using and applying process skills. We facilitate the development of scientific vocabulary through the first-hand experiences that we provide to all of our children.

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in science, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics, such as plants, are taught in key stage one and studied again in further detail throughout key stage two. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory. We believe that this will give our children the tools they need to be successful and to participate fully as a member of society.

Implementation

These aims are embedded across our science lessons and the wider curriculum. We have a rigorous and well-organised science curriculum that is in line with the National Curriculum, where teaching and learning should show progression across all key stages within each of the strands of science. We deliver clear and comprehensive schemes of work in line with the National Curriculum where children have access to and plan for practical investigative opportunities within their science lessons.

Children will be able to reflect on previous learning and cross curricular links will be made wherever possible. Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners. Through effective teaching of science, we develop children’s knowledge and key skills during each topic.

We ensure that we maintain a high level of subject knowledge of science in our school by regular training and professional development. In our school we strongly encourage all pupils to use specific topic related vocabulary. Children have access to key language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply to their written, mathematical and verbal communication. Children will use a range of resources to develop their knowledge and understanding that is integral to their learning and develop their understanding of working scientifically.

We use have a clear and rigorous assessment programme to tailor lessons around the needs of our children and help us plan for next steps. In our school we have a rigorous monitoring process which is kept up to date and works towards our school improvement plan. Regular monitoring shows that our children understand and apply key scientific principles within their work. Children are provided with regular opportunities to develop strategies for questioning and thinking.

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

Impact

The impact on our children is clear: progress, sustained learning and transferrable skills where children show an enjoyment and are enthusiastic about science in our school. Through our science curriculum, children’s work shows a range of topics and evidence of the curriculum coverage for all science topics. With the implementation of a clear and consistent curriculum children are becoming increasingly independent in science, selecting their own tools and materials, completing pupil lead investigations and choosing their own strategies for recording. At Brentnall, we have children who are confident to take risks in their learning, and love to discuss and share their ideas. Regular and ongoing assessments, including written and verbal feedback from teachers, informs teaching, as well as intervention, to support and enable the success of every learner at Brentnall. We hope that as children move on from Brentnall, their creativity, passion and high aspirations travel with them and continue to grow and develop as they do.