At Northbourne we provide a high-quality science education which provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. As of Term 6 2022 our teachers are implementing the PLAN science curriculum.

Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. We encourage pupils to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

Intent

At Northbourne, 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.

The Scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry. It will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.

At Northbourne, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching offers opportunities for children to:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics;

• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science through different types of Science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;

• Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
• Develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
• Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including diagrams, graphs and charts.
• Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
• Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

The Plan Science scheme provides a structure and skill development for the Science curriculum being taught throughout the school, which is linked, where possible to the theme topics to provide a creative scheme of work, which reflects a balanced programme of study.

Implementation

Science will be taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by class teacher. Our strategy is to enable all children to be catered for through adapted planning suited to their abilities.

Our teachers create a positive attitude to Science learning within their classrooms and reinforce expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Science knowledge organisers are used to enable teachers to plan effectively and children to learn and retain the important, useful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit. Each classroom also has a science display board which displays key vocabulary and concepts that the children are able to refer to. Teaching specialist vocabulary is a fundamental part of our Science curriculum. Terminology is taught and built up over time as they progress through the curriculum. Children are challenged to apply their use of this vocabulary in written work, where expectations match those of the English curriculum. Also orally, in order to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and through the use of effective questioning to communicate ideas.

Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This inquisitiveness is celebrated within the classroom and across school as it is one of our school values. Planning involves teachers creating practical, engaging lessons with opportunities for precise questioning in class to check conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning.

Working scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career. Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment and various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding.

Scientific understanding and skills allow for wider curriculum skills, such as Maths (e.g. collecting and presenting data) and Design Technology (e.g. use of mechanisms) to be embedded. At Northbourne we also use our Forest School environment to further our science learning by promoting the world around us. Children have opportunities to explore different areas of science through experiential learning such as using identification keys, recognising seasonal changes and learning the science behind practical skills such as fire lighting. These opportunities enable children to make connections which deepen their subject knowledge, as well as their understanding of how subjects relate to each other in the wider world.

In order to ensure children’s enjoyment and enthusiasm in science we perform at least one pupil voice survey each year to further develop science curriculum through questioning pupils’ views and attitudes to science.

Impact

The impact of Science at Northbourne is that we ensure our children progress to secondary school with the enthusiasm to want to know more about the world and the skills to enable them to work scientifically at a deeper level. We provide children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world, aiming to ignite their interest in a range of science-based subjects so that children learn about the possibilities for future careers in science.

 

At Northbourne we also use our Forest School environment to further our science learning by promoting the world around us. Children have opportunities to explore different areas of science through experiential learning such as using identification keys, recognising seasonal changes and learning the science behind practical skills such as fire lighting.