Key Information

Science

Intent

It is our vision, at St Paul’s, to foster a lifelong love of Science within our pupils. Science teaching aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically; to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future. Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study; these topics are revisited and developed. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory.

All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.

From Reception through to Year 6, pupils build upon a body of key scientific knowledge, skills, vocabulary and concepts. Pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about both man-made and natural phenomena and the world around them. In addition, we provide our children with wider opportunities in Science and make links to other curriculum subjects.

Implementation

At St Paul’s we ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.

We maintain a high level of subject knowledge of Science in our school through staff training and, by providing a bank of Knowledge Organisers which include building on prior knowledge, skills, vocabulary and questioning.

Science teaching involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs. Where possible, Science is linked to class topics. Science is taught as discrete units and lessons where needed to ensure coverage.

Teachers use assessment for learning to plan lessons around the needs of our pupils and, to help us plan for the next steps.

At St Paul’s, we strongly encourage all pupils to use specific topic related vocabulary. This vocabulary is progressive as pupils move through the School.

Regular monitoring of Science shows that our children understand and apply key scientific principles within their work.

We ensure that all children are provided with rich learning experiences that aim to:

Children are provided with regular opportunities to develop strategies for deeper questioning and, wider thinking.
Develop the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
Prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world today and in the future.
Help our children acquire a growing understanding of the nature, processes and methods of scientific ideas.
Help develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
Build on our children’s natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems.
Through the effective teaching of Science, we develop children’s knowledge and key skills during each scientific topic.
Science is taught discretely once a week for up to two hours. It is also taught throughout the curriculum, for example, in Art, when making bacteria portraits with regards to Edward Jenner.
At St Paul’s, we have rigorous monitoring procedures which are kept up to date. These include both pupil and staff voice surveys. In turn, these contribute to our Science Action Plan and the School Improvement Plan.

Impact

The impact and measure of this will ensure children acquire and build on appropriate age related knowledge and skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives.

Marking and feedback from teachers has impact on our pupils, often with next step questions to push learning on.

Children’s work shows a range of topics and evidence of the curriculum coverage for all science topics.

There is a progression in the children’s work and teachers’ expectations in our school.

Standards in Science are good and issues arising are addressed effectively in school.

All children will:

Enjoy and acquire a love of Science.
Acquire and build on a rich vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
Have high aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.
Become increasingly independent in Science, selecting their own tools and materials, completing pupil lead investigations and choosing their own strategies for recording.

Our SLT and Governors are kept up to date with the developments in Science at St Paul’s with subject reports, action plans and the analysis of book looks, pupil voice and staff surveys.

Knowledge Organisers