Science

A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

Source: National Curriculum, 2014

Intent

At Ash Primary we endeavour to evoke, encourage and enhance a child's natural curiosity; recognising the importance of Science throughout every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects, we give the teaching of science the prominence it requires. We aim to instill and develop a sense of enthusiasm for the world around us, equipping pupils with the core skills required to become scientifically literate learners.

Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group. We will ensure that the 'Working Scientifically' skills are built-on and developed throughout children's time at the school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently. All children should be empowered to question, query, predict, investigate, analyse and evaluate the world in which they live.

Implementation

Our children begin their science experience in the Early Years Foundation Stage, with informal investigation within the setting. Teachers facilitate children's curiosity with open ended questions and clearly thought out learning experiences which are both child-led and adult-led. Throughout the school, Cornerstones forms the basis of our Curriculum teaching, ensuring that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

Science is taught as discrete units with weekly lessons to ensure good progression and full coverage in each class. Science lessons give children rich learning experiences, helping them to prepare for a life in an ever-developing scientific and technological world, whilst nurturing their natural curiosity and developing their scientific approach to develop their concept of the world.

At Ash Primary, our Science skills and knowledge progression provide all the children with opportunities to develop their investigative skills, by supplying them with the opportunities to observe, measure, predict, hypothesise, experiment, communicate, interpret, explain and evaluate with increasing independence.

Impact

The successful approach at Ash Primary results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our children love Science!

Children will know more, remember more and understand more about the curriculum. Children retain prior-learning and make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning.

Children will:

• Demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field
• Have a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and use scientific enquiry/investigate skills
• Use a richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts
• Have confidence and a love of learning for all things science
• Retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context
• Be able to questions ideas and reflect on knowledge