Science Curriculum at XII Apostles

Science - Subject Leaders Miss Phoenix and Curriculum Team 2

Mission Statement

Our Mission: Through learning and loving we will follow Jesus

Our aims:

To place Christ at the centre of everything we do

To recognise that each child is unique and to ensure that each child is educated to fulfil their human potential

To develop an understanding of Community; being able to recognise, respect and celebrate the diversity of all within it.

Science Intent

“The important thing is to never stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein.

The National Curriculum outlines the following aims for science in primary schools:

• To develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• To 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
• To ensure all children are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future

In the National Curriculum, science is broken down into two parts; scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding and the nature, processes and methods of science. We aim to use a wide range of contexts to maximise pupil's engagement and motivation in science so that children make progress in each of these strands.

At Twelve Apostles, our aim is to provide children with a broad and balanced, engaging and interesting science curriculum that ensures children are given the opportunity to fulfil their human potential as scientists.

Our Science curriculum intends to celebrate and recognise that each child is unique and to encourage children to be aspirational, have high expectations of themselves and to be ambitious for their future.

We want to develop children’s scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through giving them the opportunities to be biologists, chemists and physicians during their science lessons. We look to equip children with the scientific knowledge and enquiry skills to help them answer questions about the world in preparation for the implication of science today and for the future. We are committed to developing children’s curiosity about the subject, as well as an appreciation of the possibilities and power of science in the world around them.

Over the years, children develop many scientific enquiry skills:

In KS1, children are taught to use practical scientific methods, processes and skills to ensure they can ask simple questions and recognise that these questions can be answered in different ways. They should be shown how to observe closely, using simple equipment through practical experiences when performing simple tests. Over the two years, children will be taught how to identify and classify and will gather and record data using tables to help answer questions that are presented to them.

In lower KS2, children are taught to use practical scientific methods, processes and skills to ensure they can ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them. Children will begin to plan for practical enquiries and comparative and fair tests, from which they will make systematic and careful observations, taking accurate measurements, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers. Children draw upon their mathematics and English skills in a variety of ways through given opportunities to gather, record, classify and present data using bar charts, graphs and tables and when writing explanations, results and conclusions.

In upper KS2, children are taught to use practical scientific methods, processes and skills to ensure they can plan different types of scientific enquires that answer their own questions. Children should begin to recognise and control variables and use equipment to take measurements with increasing accuracy and precision, including the use of repeat readings. When recording data and results, children are introduced to more complex methods of presenting data, including labelled diagrams, scatter graphs and classification keys to highlight causal relations. Over the two years, children will develop their skills when identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas of arguments.

Science Implementation.

The content and principles underpinning the National Curriculum for science and the science curriculum at Twelve Apostles ensures that children develop a strong, conceptual understanding of scientific subject knowledge and scientific enquiry skills.

• Science is a core subject and is taught weekly across the school. Science lessons focus on allowing children to be scientists; specifically, biologists, chemists and physicians.
• Teachers reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science.
• The large majority of children progress through the curriculum content at the same pace and aim towards their year group expectations.
• Learning is supported by carefully planned and sequenced lessons and specifically chosen resources to enable a deep conceptual and procedural knowledge.
• Each science topic begins with a big question to stimulate children’s curiosity and maximise pupil’s engagement in their learning. They are given the opportunity to explore and research famous scientists and look at their role in the history of science.
• Scientific vocabulary is key to enabling children to be scientists and investigate. Key vocabulary is planned for and explicitly taught so that children have the building blocks to explain their understanding.
• Play and practical exploration are key to developing a conceptual understanding in science and in engaging children in enjoyment of science.
• Progression of subject knowledge and skills is carefully monitored from session to session and year group to year group to ensure children achieve their full scientific potential.
• Teachers are given the freedom to find and use resources to plan for and teach exciting and stimulating science lessons for children.
• The local community is used as a stimulus for scientific exploration. The environment surrounding the school is utilised by teachers to enable the children to investigate and observe the wonders of the world. For example, seasonal changes and animals and their habitats.
• Teachers use assessment for learning throughout the teaching cycle to identify conceptual and procedural knowledge. This assessment information is used to inform teaching and identify quickly those children who require additional support.
• Summative assessments are carried out at the end of each unit and children are assessed on both scientific subject knowledge as well as working scientifically skills.
• Through Science, children will draw upon their cross curricular skills such as reading and writing, computing skills as well as many mathematics skills such as data collection, analysis and presentation of results using tables and graphs.
• Children with SEND are supported through differentiation of resources, support and adapted work.
• Periodically, KS2 are offered an extracurricular science club, where they are given the opportunity to take part in exciting and engaging science activities linked to the National Curriculum.

Science Impact

Our mission is clear, we aim to ensure that all children fulfil their human potential. We have a supportive ethos and our approaches support the children in developing their collaborative and independent skills, as well as empathy and the need to recognise the achievement of others.

Children can underperform in science because they think they cannot do it or are not naturally good at it. The principles behind using play and practical experience enables all children to achieve. It ensures that all children experience challenge and success in science by developing a growth mindset. Regular and ongoing assessment informs teaching to support and enable the success of each child. These factors ensure that we are able to maintain high standards, with achievement at the end of KS2.

Science Policy.

Science Long Term Plan Overview.

Science Long Term Curriculum Outcomes.