“All children are encouraged to develop an interest in the world around them and to develop an enquiring mind. As well as building up a body of concepts and knowledge, children are taught various scientific skills and attitudes to enable them to plan investigations, predict their outcomes and interpret and communicate their findings.”
Science Curriculum Statement of Intent
At Barlby Bridge Community Primary School we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. Science is a systematic investigation of the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the world which relies on first hand experiences and on other sources of information through the process of enquiry. 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.
The main aspects of science to be studied will be determined by the programmes of study of the National Curriculum 2014.
Continuity and Progression
Foundation Stage pupils investigate science as part of Understanding of the World. Children are encouraged to investigate through practical experience; teachers guide the children and plan opportunities that allow the children to experience and learn whilst experimenting for themselves. By careful planning, pupils’ scientific skills and the knowledge gained at EYFS and subsequently Key Stage 1 will be consolidated and developed during Key Stage 2.
Pupils in Key Stage 1 will be introduced to science through focused observations and explorations of the world around them. These will be further developed through supportive investigations into more independent work at Key Stage 2. The knowledge and content prescribed in the National Curriculum will be introduced throughout both key stages in a progressive and coherent way.
Intent
At Barlby Bridge Community Primary School our science teaching offers opportunities to;
- develop pupils’ enjoyment and interest in science and an appreciation of its contribution to all aspects of everyday life
- build on pupils’ curiosity and sense of awe of the natural world
- use a planned and sequential range of investigations and practical activities to give pupils a greater understanding of the concepts and knowledge of science
- introduce pupils to the language and vocabulary of science
- develop pupils’ basic practical skills and their ability to make accurate and appropriate measurements
- develop pupils’ use of computing in their science studies.
- extend the learning environment for our pupils via our environmental areas and the locality
Implementation
Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
Science will be taught in planned and arranged sequentially in topic blocks by the class teacher. This is a strategy to enable the acquisition of a greater depth of knowledge.
- Through planning, problem solving opportunities are provided that allow children to become independent and inquisitive learners. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.
- We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years and phases. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases they become more proficient in selecting and using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, and are able to draw conclusions that are based on real evidence.
- The skills of Working Scientifically are embedded into lessons to ensure that they are being developed throughout the children’s school career with new vocabulary and challenging concepts being planned for and introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through each year group and key stage, in-keeping with the topics.
- Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning, school visits and workshops with experts.
Impact
The Science curriculum at Barlby Bridge Community Primary school results in a fun, engaging and high quality Science education that has the following impact on our children. The achievement of the following impact statements, derived from the above science curriculum intent and implementation, will form the basis of our decisions when planning a scheme of work.
- To develop pupils’ enjoyment and interest in science and an appreciation of its contribution to all aspects of everyday life.
- To secure knowledge of the science contained within the programmes of study of the National Curriculum.
- To develop a knowledge and appreciation of the contribution made by famous scientists to our knowledge of the world including scientists from different cultures
- To encourage pupils to relate their scientific studies to the world around them
- To build on pupils’ curiosity and sense of awe of the natural world
- to develop in pupils a general sense of enquiry which encourages them to question and make suggestions
- to encourage pupils to predict the likely outcome of their investigations and practical activities
- to provide pupils with a range of specific investigations and practical work which gives them a worth-while experience to develop their understanding of science
- To develop progressively pupils’ ability to plan, carry out and evaluate simple scientific investigations and to appreciate the meaning of a ‘fair test’.
- To develop the ability to record results in an appropriate manner including the use of diagrams, graphs, tables and charts
- To introduce pupils to the language and vocabulary of science
- To give pupils regular opportunities to use the scientific terms necessary to communicate ideas about science
- to develop pupils’ basic practical skills and their ability to make accurate and appropriate measurements
Pupils are given as much opportunity as possible to investigate. Science is generally taught as part of a themed topic, however occasionally it is more appropriate to teach it as a separate subject.