Science
Subject Leaders: Mrs J. Eccles & Miss A. Stirzaker
God's world is full of wonder and our science curriculum has been designed to support and encourage a passion for exploring His creation whilst acquiring the key learning and skills specified in the National Curriculum. Children will understand that science can be used to explain the complex world that we live in and that in order to do this we must work scientifically by:
- Asking questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
- Making observations and taking measurements
- Engaging in practical enquiry to answer questions
- Recording and presenting evidence
- Answering questions and concluding
- Evaluating and raising further questions and predictions
- Communicating our findings
We aim to provide our children with a range of opportunities to develop their science capital and help their natural curiosity flourish through understanding that science can explain the cause and effect of the phenomena that surround us, as well as the impact that we have on our environment, both locally and globally.
Through the teaching of science, we want children to understand the valuable differences and contributions that we can make to support people living in God's glory by understanding and analysing the complexities of the world we live in.
Our aim is to support children in becoming independent, diligent, curious, resilient and empathetic scientists with real life experiences to help them gain a better understanding of how science is interwoven throughout our everyday lives. We strive to promote the importance of ethical and sustainable responsibility that we all have in order to look after the planet that we share as stewards of God's creation.
Alongside our engaging and practical lessons, we enhance our topics and inspire our children through cross-curricular links, workshops, trips and aspirational visitors to ignite a passion for science and broaden ideas about future careers.
Science Curriculum
In the Early Years, Science is taught within a variety of topics such as All About Me, looking at similarities, differences and the senses. The children make observations of seasonal changes and their environment. They talk about what they have seen and give reasons why things happen, recording in simple forms.
In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, Science is taught each half term according to a programme of study covering a variety of topics, such as plants, animals including humans, everyday materials, seasonal changes, forces and electricity. The children develop skills of enquiry and scientific vocabulary as they progress through the school.
The topics are linked to other areas of the curriculum, which develops the children’s knowledge, understanding and awareness of the importance of Science in our everyday lives. As a Catholic school we strive to embed Catholic Social Teaching throughout our curriculum and our daily lives. In our science lessons we refer to the values and teachings of God and Jesus in each topic, supporting the children in their understanding of how science and CST are linked. Some questions which link to different year groups and their topics are provided below.
Catholic Social Teaching in science
Primary Science Quality Mark
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark. To achieve this award, there was a year of CPD, which focused on developing effective, confident science leadership for whole school impact on science teaching and learning. We continue to strive to provide the best possible experiences for our children to equip them for the modern day world.
PSQM :
- Enables science subject leaders to develop and articulate a clear intent and aspirational vision for science. The process of achieving a PSQM raises the profile and quality of science across the whole school.
- Supports subject leaders to effectively implement a curriculum for science that is informed by research evidence and best practice data. Working with an expert hub leader subject leaders evaluate current provision for science and put in place a development cycle that leads to sustained progress in science across the school.
- Ensures strong and positive impact: Children make good progress, building and consolidating their knowledge and skills, developing positive attitudes about science and its value to their lives and globally. Teachers and children enjoy their science lessons.
Whole School Science Overview
Whole School Skills Progression Matrix
Science Policy
Principles of Science
Our Scientific Work
Our Science lessons have been full of wonderful scientific opportunities, practical experiments and investigations. Take a look at some of our photographs to find out what we have been doing across the school.
Useful Websites
Please find below links to websites that you may find useful, particularly whilst learning from home. There are a variety of websites which offer curriculum based, interactive learning which can be done with every day materials found around the home.