Science

Science curriculum statement

Intent

At Castle Primary School, we aim for all our students to become inquisitive learners that question the world around them and beyond. Through encouraging their curiosity and questioning, we aspire for all our children to develop their own lines of enquiry to investigate. The skills needed to work scientifically to conduct these investigations are essential. The fundamental skills to assist our children to plan, test and review their practical learning are embedded into our science curriculum, allowing our young scientists to flourish.

Our students will obtain a rich knowledge in all biology, chemistry and physics units within the National Curriculum, as well as learning about the leading scientists that have shaped these areas throughout history. Using live experiment demonstrations, high-quality lessons and visits by experts in their field of science, we expose our children to a diverse range of modern-day scientists too. In addition to this, our students will be able to experience science outside the classroom such as visits to local farms, coastlines, wildlife sanctuaries and science museums. These encounters not only support learning through practical and real-life scenarios but help to inspire future careers and scientific interests.

Across all areas of the science curriculum there is a clear progression of knowledge that is built upon every year from EYFS to Y6. Where possible, units are taught alongside topics and forest school to allow cross-curricular opportunities to further enrich their learning and present the science using real life concepts.

At Castle Primary School, we see the importance of protecting our world and strive to promote an admiration and respect for our planet, as well as the people working to make it better. We want our children to be passionate about the environment and give them the knowledge to make a difference.

Implementation

Our aim for all teachers is to plan creative, engaging and practical units of science that excites children’s curiosity about all areas of the National Curriculum. We create safe learning environments that promote pupil confidence to ask questions and problem solve, while developing scientific knowledge and skills. Castle’s whole-school approach to teaching and learning includes the following:

• Science units outlined in the National Curriculum are clearly planned by teachers to be taught across each year to best support their learning outcomes. For example, biology subjects such as: ‘plants’, ‘living things and their habitats’ and ‘animals including humans’, are taught during spring and summer terms to allow for successful gardening and habitat projects to occur, thus enriching the real-life experiences for our pupils.
• As teachers, we understand how science influences everyday life, which is why science is one of the main drivers throughout our curriculum. At Castle, we have strong links between our science, computing and design and technology subjects, as well as forest school, to ensure a more cohesive approach to learning. This enables the children to delve deeper into the topic they are learning and understand how these subjects link to real life experiences. Additionally, this allows rich opportunities for our children to develop problem solving and collaborative skills while working on projects with their peers.
• At Castle Primary School we strive to engage children in practical experiments to enhance learning, following an enquiry-based approach. We believe it is essential for children to develop their own questions and curiosity around science, which leads them to ‘plan, test and review’ their own hypotheses. Children need to learn a variety of skills and processes to be successful scientists. They need to learn how to hypothesise, predict and test; they need to be confident in their own abilities to observe and record their findings and then interpret, communicate and conclude these. Our goal is for all students to be able to plan and carry out their own investigations independently; deciding how best to present and communicate their findings and evaluating their results. For this to be achieved, a clear progression of scientific skills is embedded throughout our curriculum, as well as the vocabulary and science equipment required. Furthermore, this child-led, enquiry approach enhances children’s engagement and provides them with ownership over their own learning of scientific discoveries.
• Teachers continuously assess and monitor children’s knowledge, understanding and development of skills through reviewing prior learning, good questioning, quizzes and observing how they conduct themselves during independent practical tasks. As we have a clear progression of skills, all teachers have a clear understanding of prior and future learning before starting any unit.

Impact

The successful learning approach at Castle Primary School, creates a high-quality, fun and engaging science education that children love. It provides all children with a strong foundation of scientific knowledge to support their understanding of the world they live in, as well as developing respect and compassion for our planet and the threats it faces.

We strive for all children to become curious and inquisitive learners that are equipped with the scientific skills to conduct their own investigations. Children will understand that there is not a simple correct or incorrect result in science, but that all scientific results are evidence for or against their hypothesis and predictions. They will become resilient learners that learn from their results and problem solve to best adapt their next investigations; this is the key to working scientifically.

Through practical experiences inside and outside the classroom, high quality teaching, as well as participating in a range of encounters with scientific experts, we aim to develop new and existing scientific interests among our children and encourage them to recognise and appreciate the vital importance of science to all our lives and future.