Intent
At Burrowmoor Primary School, we offer a science curriculum that evokes curiosity, excitement and understanding about the world around them through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. We are continually developing enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific enquiry which will enable our pupils to have a strong understanding of the world around them.
At Burrowmoor, we intend to provide opportunities for the children to:
- Be equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
- To ask questions and opinions about their surroundings, both at school and in the community
- Look at how science can be used to look at what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes.
- Be exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences, which allows them to explore their outdoor environment and locality, which in turn develops their scientific enquiry and investigative skills.
- Have a range of practical experiences that are cross-curricular and allow scientific vocabulary to thrive.
- Look at the relationship between the natural world and to allow pupils to think for themselves and reach their own explanations and conclusions.
- Be provided with first-hand experiences through the stimulus of our Forest school, Educational visits and science day/weeks.
- Have high aspirations which will inspire them to study further and want to know more as they go through their lives.
Implementation
Teacher create a positive attitude to scientific learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in this subject. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
- We teach an allocated Science lesson each week in all year groups from Years 1-6. The lesson takes place on the same afternoon for each particular year group. We have prioritised Science in our school as we recognise that teaching technological literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving through science education gives our pupils the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and beyond.
- Ensure that science in both written and practical work is recorded in a separate science book. This allows us to clearly see the progression of subjects and skills that children are making as pupils move through KS1 and KS2.
- Plan that for every unit of work, investigations (SC1) are conducted in small groups or carried out individually. Teachers plan for the children to do these investigations independently, where possible.
- Look at the coverage of units of work and decide when they are conducted at appropriate times in the year - e.g. Plants and Living things taught in the Spring term. We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
- Ensure that progression is made apparent between each year group by using the curriculum coverage overview and NC. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills.
- As a staff, give science specific feedback, both verbal and written to pupils when all work is marked.
Impact
The intended impact of the Science curriculum is that the majority of children in each year group are working at or above the expected level for their age. Teachers will assess children against key objectives from the Science curriculum. In addition, it is the intended impact that the children:
- Are inspired by the Science curriculum and want to learn more.
- Show the progression in their skills, knowledge and understanding in their work.
- Can discuss their learning and remember what they have learned.
- Can identify some key scientists and talk about the impact that their work has had on the world.
Enrichment
At Burrowmoor, our Science curriculum is enriched through purposeful cross-curricular links. We endeavour to provide off-site subject related opportunities and plan engaging and exciting hands-on lessons or topic related experiences. We participate in Science Week each year, which allows all pupils to come off timetable, to provide a broader provision and acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. During this week, there are a range of experiments and investigations that take place.