Science
‘To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.’
Albert Einstein
Intent
Science is a body of knowledge built up through discovering the world around us, through exploring, asking questions, observing, testing and developing ideas and through making links with what children discover to scientific concepts. This is central to the teaching of the 2014 National Curriculum for science at Park End Primary School. Through building up a body of key knowledge and concepts of biology, chemistry and physics, pupils will be encouraged to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world around them, whilst engaging in the practical aspects of science.
At Park End Primary, our vision is to inspire pupils to foster a love of science and develop the necessary knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for life beyond school.
Therefore, our intent statement sets out to:
- Develop conceptual knowledge and understanding of the subject disciplines biology, chemistry and physics through the teaching of working scientifically
- 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
- Be equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future
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;
- Weekly science lessons which carefully plan for progression, depth and the use of scientific vocabulary
- Teachers using and referring to scientific vocabulary throughout lessons and the expectation for pupils to use scientific vocabulary in the oral and written form
- Sequencing of lessons that provide opportunities for pupils to revisit scientific skills from previous lessons and from previous years
- The disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology being taught across the year making links with other subjects where possible
- A science curriculum that is broken down into science enquiries across the year
- Lessons planned and taught so that working scientifically drives each lesson and the subject disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology are developed through this approach
- Exposing children to scientists, both past and present
- Widening pupil’s science capital through introducing them to careers in the field of science
- Children being offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class
- Children to be taught outdoors in the natural environment where possible
Impact
Our Science Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. We measure the impact of our science curriculum through the following methods:
- Pupils developing a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and working scientifically
- Children achieving end of Key-Stage expectations in working scientifically
- Pupils are provided with opportunities to answer probing questions in the oral and written for so they are challenged
- Pupils demonstrating scientific knowledge through the completion of knowledge assessments
- Pupils having a richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
- Pupils discussion about their learning
If you would like to discuss our curriculum in more detail, please contact Sharon Armes, Deputy Head Teacher and Curriculum Leader.
