Science 

 

Intent

Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in the way we do?

At St Mary’s it is our vision to distil a lifelong love of Science within our pupils and to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding. We work hard to provide a rich and varied curriculum to challenge and meet the needs of our children. We are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and challenging learning environment and throughout our school children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including questioning, researching and observing.

 

In our school, we believe that the recipe for success is high quality teaching in Science, curious learners, and a positive attitude which is central to our school values. It will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.

 

Implementation

What do we teach? What does this look like?

At St Mary’s science is taught through ‘mini mission’ topics, where we delve fully into the topic and become experts. We use a variety of teaching and learning styles and cross curricular links. Through this our principal aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding. 

 

Science is taught through whole class teaching as well as engaging the children in enquiry-based research where children have the opportunity to carry out experiments, collect their own data and analyse their results. Wherever possible, we involve children in real and practical scientific activities where children are encouraged to ask, as well as answer, scientific questions.

 

Science is taught through a variety of cross-curricular links. ICT is used in lessons to enhance learning and children take part in role-play, discussions and present reports to the rest of the class. Children also write non-chronological reports around scientific topics and biographies about famous scientists, to name a few links to English. We offer opportunities for pupils to apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science through the presentation and analysis of data. Teaching and learning of science at St Mary’s expect children to read and spell scientific vocabulary at a level consistent for their key stage.

 

Impact

What will this look like? By the time children leave our school they will:

By the end of Key Stage 2 we aim for the children to have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the Science curriculum: Biology, Chemistry and Physics, meeting many aspects of the National Curriculum. Pupils will develop an 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. The impact of this is to ensure learners not only acquire the appropriate knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives. All learners will have:

 

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
• A richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and successful adult life.