Science

Intent

At Swain House primary school, we believe that the science curriculum should:

•         Engage, inspire and challenge all pupils through a high-quality science curriculum.
•         Provide a broad and ambitious science curriculum that develops pupils’ scientific knowledge and understanding progressively over time.
•         Develop pupils’ ability to think and work scientifically by questioning, observing, investigating and using evidence to draw conclusions – thinking like scientists!
•         Raise aspirations by ensuring all pupils see science as relevant, accessible and open to them.
•         Nurture pupils’ natural curiosity through practical, hands-on and enquiry-based learning.
•         Develop pupils’ curiosity and questioning while helping them understand the relevance of science to their everyday lives and the wider world.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum which:

•         Expose pupils to a diverse range of scientists, fields of science and STEM careers, helping them understand how science is used in the wider world and raising aspirations.
•         Make purposeful use of the school grounds, specialist spaces and local environment to provide meaningful opportunities for scientific observation and enquiry.
•         Provide regular opportunities for practical enquiry, enabling pupils to develop their working scientifically skills, including questioning, predicting, observing, measuring, recording, interpreting results and drawing conclusions.
•         Build knowledge and skills progressively, making explicit links to prior learning so that pupils know more, remember more and can do more over time.
•         Use Learning Links, Memorable Facts and purposeful retrieval opportunities to revisit key knowledge and help pupils make connections between prior and new learning.
•         Enrich the science curriculum through purposeful visits, visitors and experiences that bring science to life and make learning meaningful and memorable.
•         Celebrate British Science Week annually, providing pupils with engaging, memorable experiences and opportunities to explore science beyond their usual curriculum.
•         Develop scientific vocabulary and oracy by providing regular opportunities for pupils to discuss, explain and justify their scientific thinking.
•         Begin scientific learning in EYFS through exploration of the natural world, observation, questioning and first-hand experiences, providing strong foundations for the Key Stage 1 science curriculum.
• Explicitly teach and revisit key scientific vocabulary and essential knowledge, supported by age-appropriate resources including knowledge organisers and Memorable Facts.
•        Use ongoing formative assessment to identify what pupils know and remember, address misconceptions and gaps, and inform subsequent teaching and retrieval.

Impact

As a result of our science curriculum, pupils will:

•        Develop secure scientific knowledge and understanding that builds progressively through school.
•        Remember and recall key scientific knowledge and vocabulary, making connections between prior and new learning.
•        Work scientifically with increasing independence through questioning, observing, investigating, recording and drawing conclusions.
•        Use scientific vocabulary confidently to explain their ideas and understanding.
•        Apply their scientific knowledge and skills in a range of contexts.
•        Demonstrate curiosity about the world around them by asking questions and exploring scientific ideas.
•        Understand the relevance of science to everyday life and develop awareness of scientists, STEM careers and future opportunities.
•        Be well prepared for the next stage of their science education.

Impact is evaluated through formative assessment, pupils’ work, pupil voice and curriculum monitoring, enabling teachers and subject leaders to identify strengths, gaps and areas for development.