Intent

Science inspires children. It excites them and develops their innate curiosity. At Bramford Primary School, we recognise the power of this as a starting point. It is our intention to harness these values and provide a broad and balanced Science curriculum which delivers opportunities to grow these positive beginnings into a life-long passion to explore and have a deeper understanding of the world around them.

At Bramford Primary School, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. Our Science teaching offers cross-curricular opportunities for pupils to develop their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding, and develop and use a range of skills for working scientifically, including questioning, researching and making first-hand observations.

We have a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum which has been carefully designed and developed with the need of every child at the centre of what we do. 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.

We ensure that working scientifically skills are built on and developed throughout children’s time at school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting experiments and investigation, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently, being familiar with scientific terminology, and most importantly continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

The teaching and acquisition of new vocabulary are very important in our school and this is no different in the Science curriculum. Scientific language is taught and built on as topics and subject areas are revisited in different year groups and across key stages. In addition, we also see Science as a way of developing our school’s core values through collaborating, showing resilience, articulating ideas and explanations, reflecting on our learning, demonstrating creativity in our thinking and being all-round excellent learners in Science.

It is our intention that our Science curriculum will enable pupils to recognise the importance of Science in daily life, to make pupils aware that many jobs of the future are likely to relate to a secure scientific understanding, and also to give them strong foundations upon which future science teaching may build.

Implementation

At Bramford, 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.
• Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest in the scientific disciplines, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• 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.
• 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 some key Science Curriculum Statement information, dates and vocabulary. This is not used as part of an assessment, but to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and is used as a reference document.
• Working scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that these skills are being developed throughout the years, in keeping with the topics.
• Teachers use highly effective assessments for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.
• Effective modelling by teachers of new vocabulary and challenging concepts ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed as they arise.
• Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.
• Cross-curricular links are planned with other subjects such as Maths, English and Computing.
• Through enrichment days and weeks such as Griffin Science Symposium and National Science week, we promote the profile of science and allow time for children to freely explore scientific topics.
• Target Tracker allows us to use data to inform future practice.

EYFS:

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of Science through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World.’ Children find out about objects, materials and living things using all of their senses looking at similarities, differences, patterns and changes. Both the environment and skilled practitioners foster curiosity and encourage explorative play, children are motivated to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. Our children are encouraged to explore the natural environment around them. Children enjoy spending time outdoors exploring mini-beasts and their habitats, observing the changing seasons, plants and animals. Children regularly participate in cookery and baking sessions which allows them to experience changes in state as ingredients are mixed, heated and cooled.

Impact

The approach to the teaching of science at Bramford Primary results in an engaging and high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world so that they can take it with them once they complete their primary education. 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 progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave Bramford 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.