Science
The Intent of our Science Curriculum
It is increasingly important to encourage the children’s interest and involvement in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
By one popular estimate, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist.
(McLeod, Scott and Karl Fisch, ‘Shift Happens’ 2018)
With this in mind, it is important to introduce the children to as many experiences as possible, recognising that what inspires each individual child may be very different.
At Quernmore C.E. Controlled Primary School our children love Science and are Scientists! We aim to give every child a broad and balanced Science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to love science. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists or microbiologists. We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with! To achieve this, it involves exciting, practical hands on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning. Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love and thirst for learning. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
The Implementation of our Science Curriculum
At Quernmore, Science topics are taught within each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum.
- Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
- Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
- Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
- Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
- In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
- At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- Children are given a knowledge organiser at the start of each topic which details Key vocabulary, learning and information. This is not used as part of an assessment, but to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and are used as a reference document.
- Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum.
- Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
- Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.
- Children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the learning intention with differing elements of independence.
- Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.
- Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths and English.
- A biennial Science/STEM Week promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths throughout the school, encouraging a wealth of visitors to meet the children and promote these subjects. We are lucky to have many parents that work in STEM careers who are willing to support the school during this week. The children benefit from a wealth of activities and experiences, meeting and working with adults from different fields.
- Staff uses resources from Plan Assessment to support planning, teaching and assessment. Our progression document and scientific vocabulary is rooted in this good practice.
The Impact of our Science Curriculum
The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave Quernmore C.E. Controlled Primary School reaching at least age related expectations for Science. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts our Science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. We want to empower our children so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.
Science Week 2023
