Intent

Our overarching aim for our Science Curriculum is to develop pupils’ learning to acquire the appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding, which promotes their spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience for later life. We recognise the importance of science in every aspect of daily life and aim to give teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires.

Our Science Curriculum ensures 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.

In summary, we intend to:

• ensure all pupils know more, remember more and understand more – develop learning that results in the acquisition of knowledge;
• ensure all pupils become enquiry based learners – develop enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

The clear and comprehensive programme of study we have adopted at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School embraces the National Curriculum aims:

• to ensure all pupils have access to a progressive sequence of knowledge and concepts- ensuring secure understanding of previous stages before progress is allowed to the next stage
• to ensure all pupils are taught to ‘work scientifically’ throughout the programme
• to ensure all pupils can describe associated processes and key characteristics, using technical terminology accurately and precisely
• to ensure pupils can read and spell scientific vocabulary at a level consistent with their increasing word reading and spelling knowledge
• to ensure all pupils apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science in collecting, presenting and analysing data
• to ensure all pupils can use a range of scientific enquiry – through observation, pattern-seeking, identification, classification/grouping, comparative/controlled investigations [fair testing]and research using secondary sources
• to ensure in KS1 most of the learning is acquired through first-hand practical experience with some use of secondary sources [books, photographs and videos]

In summary, we aim to implement this by:

1. having a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum;
2. children having access to:

• key language and meanings
• practical experiences
• range of scientific equipment
• digital technology
• photographs
• books

3. having clear cross-curricular links – enabling children to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together;
4. having educational visits linked to subject matter taught.

The school uses the Kent scheme of work for science  which is based on scientific enquiry. This has been tailored to support the needs of the pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. It is also supplemented with a range of other resources including Stem learning, concept cartoons and Herts for learning .

Long Term Plans

Implementation

Children will receive two hours of Science lessons per week. The long term plan

Each topic:

starts with a hook

focuses on key knowledge and key scientific enquiry

focuses on at least one key scientist

Each lesson:

starts with recapping prior learning and focusing on key vocabulary

starts with a question/problem to solve

encourages creative thinking and reasoning

has a context that connects with children’s own lives and experiences

encourages and develops the skills needed for children to ask their own questions and discover science themselves through practical investigations and research

emphasises the role of evidence to challenge or prove ideas and answer questions

includes discussion and debate

makes good use of resources that are exciting, high quality and are of a quantity that allow full participation – including taking every opportunity to use the outdoor environment

takes into account pupils’ prior knowledge and understanding

supports children’s application and development of basic skills through communicating their scientific findings and understanding in different ways including talking and writing in different forms using scientific vocabulary, pictures, graphs and using computing

focuses on only ONE part of an investigation in depth, although all parts of the investigation are completed

Homework

Pupils may be set homework from time to time to consolidate and practice the work they have learnt in class.

Impact

By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills, and processes learnt in each year group. By the end of the Key Stage:

• children will know more and remember more about science;
• children will be able to question ideas and reflect on their knowledge;
• children will be able to work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment;
• children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically;
• children will achieve age-related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort as follows:

Progression  of Science Skills

Science End Points

Assessment

Assessment for learning is carried out throughout each lesson taught, either through observation or marking. Live nudges are used as and when needed, and some formative and summative assessments are carried out throughout the year.

Moderation:

1. In-house.
2. Cross-school.
3. Local Authority.
4. All of the above will be monitored and discussed during pupil progress meeting and staff performance management.