Science

Science Lead: Miss S Bennett

We use the Kapow Primary Science Curriculum which covers the National Curriculum expectations from EYFS to Year 6.

We believe that high quality science teaching provides the foundations for understanding the world we live in. We aspire to stimulate the children's curiosity to ask questions and want to find out more about the world. Science is a vital part of everyone’s lives, and through building up their knowledge and concepts, pupils will be encouraged to recognise the importance of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They will be taught how to predict, observe, explain, analyse and evaluate what they learn and do – creating an ethos of Science Capital as the norm.

Children will access high quality teaching, with a range of practical, hands on-experiences. This includes the use of our outdoor and local area as well as educational visits further afield. Working scientifically skills are embedded throughout the curriculum, providing pupils with the necessary skills to become independent scientists.  As they progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions. Children are encouraged to take charge of their learning and apply their scientific skills to test their theories. Our scheme of work ensures that children have a varied, progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum, from EYFS to the end of KS2, which provides the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the Science National Curriculum. Our curriculum also provides children with essential transferrable skills,  such as creativity, enquiry,  critical thinking and communication skills.

Pupils will be introduced to and immersed in scientific vocabulary, enabling them to understand scientific phenomena and communicate their ideas effectively. Cross-curricular links to other topics will be made wherever applicable, to support their knowledge and understanding , as well as an appreciation for the application of science in the wider world. We will also take into account real-life events as and when they happen, to ensure children are aware of the importance of science in everyday life.

As children progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions. Our scheme of work ensures that children have a varied, progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum that provides the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the Science National Curriculum for KS1 and KS2.

Our Science curriculum is taught through:

• Quality first teaching, with high expectations 
• The learning of key scientific vocabulary and knowledge within each individual unit
• Regularly planned practical experiences, providing a progression of working scientifically skills (each year and across year groups)
• Progression of knowledge within each unit
• Cross-curricular use of skills and knowledge
• Key assessment questions
• Constructive feedback to children and regular assessment
• Regular reviews and links to prior learning
• Constructive feedback to children
• Adapting lessons to support a range of learning needs 

We also aim to foster positive attitudes towards science through:

• Displaying and celebrating the pupils’ Science work in their class, around the school, on the school website
• Inviting experts and outside visitors to lead workshops and /or assemblies to inspire and motivate the children (including online workshops).
• Celebrating Science events such as British Science week, in which children take part in additional science investigations
• Opportunities to attend a science club.