Science

Our Science curriculum, is designed in alignment with the EYFS & National Curriculum. It aims to ignite curiosity, inspire awe and wonder, and foster a lifelong passion for exploration and discovery in our pupils. We believe that Science plays a fundamental role in equipping our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to understand the natural world, make informed decisions, and engage critically and responsibly with scientific developments, challenges, and opportunities in our ever-changing society.

Pupils 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.

Our Science curriculum carefully identifies and prioritises the most crucial substantive concepts, in line with National Curriculum guidance. These are at the heart of our teaching, ensuring that pupils gain a solid foundation in scientific knowledge and understanding.

Pupils are made clear on the most important knowledge they need to know and remember, through resources such as knowledge organisers, helping them to focus their learning and understand the relevance and significance of scientific concepts in their everyday lives.

We have incorporated strategies to anticipate and address common misconceptions. By doing so, we aim to provide pupils with a clear and accurate understanding of scientific concepts, enhancing their ability to think critically and analytically.

Our curriculum breaks down end goals into their component parts. This approach facilitates a systematic and structured learning progression, enabling pupils to grasp complex concepts by building upon foundational knowledge. Our Science long term plan long and progression documents provide details of this. 

The Science curriculum is carefully sequenced to allow pupils to build schemata for important concepts over time. This progressive approach ensures continuity in learning and fosters deeper understanding.

Children’s learning in science is revisited and built upon over time, reinforcing learning and allowing pupils to deepen their understanding through practice and application.

Our curriculum explicitly identifies the disciplinary knowledge that underpins working scientifically. Pupils are taught the principles and methods of scientific inquiry, equipping them with the skills to explore, investigate, and interpret the world around them scientifically.

Our curriculum outlines how disciplinary knowledge advances over time, ensuring that pupils’ learning is progressive, coherent, and aligned with their cognitive development. 

Pupils are actively taught disciplinary knowledge rather than merely expected to acquire it through investigation. This ensures a deeper and more meaningful engagement with scientific concepts. 

Pupils are equipped with the necessary mathematical knowledge to support their scientific understanding, promoting interdisciplinary learning and enhancing problem-solving skills.

They learn about various types of scientific enquiry beyond just fair tests, enabling them to appreciate the diverse methods and approaches used in scientific research.

Our Science curriculum is designed to develop learners with:

• the ability to think independently and raise questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills that it brings;
• confidence and competence in the full range of practical skills, taking the initiative in, for example, planning and carrying out scientific investigations;
• excellent scientific knowledge and understanding which is demonstrated in written and verbal explanations, solving challenging problems and reporting scientific findings;
• the ability to undertake practical work in a variety of contexts;
• a passion for science and its application in past, present and future technologies.