Science
Intent:
At St. Robert Southwell, we want our children to be naturally curious about the world. Our curriculum has been developed by staff to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum and to foster a sense of wonder about natural phenomena. Moreover, it is intended to develop an understanding of the uses and applications of science both today and for the future. We are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and challenging learning environment. We want our children to question, engage with, and learn from everything around them and bring to their study of science their enthusiasm and energy to expand their knowledge, develop their skills and enhance their understanding.
Throughout their time at St. Robert Southwell, our school children are encouraged to become independent learners by developing and using a wide range of skills, including planning, investigation, research and observation, enabling them to be “Working Scientifically”.
Scientific language is taught and enriched as topics are revisited in different year groups and across key stages, allowing children to build upon their prior knowledge. Furthermore, by embedding core concepts, procedures, key questioning skills and means of scientific enquiry, the children develop a bank of approaches to help them answer their scientific questions.
Implementation:
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. A comprehensive, whole-school planning approach ensures that full coverage of ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science’ and ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage is given.
Wherever possible, science is linked to class topics. At the start of each topic, teachers take time to find out what our children already understand and want to find out. Our teachers use this to adapt and extend the curriculum to match children’s interests and needs, referencing current events and developments where appropriate. We include the use of technology, wherever possible, to aid teaching and learning. Through teacher modelling and planned questioning, we want our children to wonder about, be fascinated by and involved in the world around them.
Children have access to ‘Science Knowledge Organisers’, which give individual topic overviews for each topic studied within each year group. These include key skills, knowledge, vocabulary, diagrams and a fun quiz to demonstrate their knowledge at the end.
Key scientific language is modelled throughout lessons, enabling our children to be familiar with and use vocabulary accurately. Teachers are also encouraged to include trips and visitors in their planning to enhance our children’s learning experience.
At St Robert Southwell, we aspire to promote children’s independence and for all children to take responsibility for their own learning.
Curriculum Impact
Pupils mark against their own targets how they feel about their learning in a topic; attainment is tracked through online pupil target trackers against National Curriculum expectations and Working Scientifically skills.
In addition, impact is monitored through regular ‘book-looks’, home projects, in-class displays, lesson learning walks, discussions with teaching staff and ‘Parents and Pupil Voice’.