Intent
It is our intention at St Mary and Joseph’s to instil in all young people a lifelong curiosity and interest in the sciences. We intend for children to have the opportunity, wherever possible, to learn through varied systematic investigations with quality resources, leading to them being equipped to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them. As children progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions. At St Mary and St Joseph’s we use a knowledge organiser with each unit that can be used to help reinforce the key knowledge as set out in the science national curriculum. The knowledge organisers help children to consolidate and retain the science knowledge they have learnt and also reinforce key scientific vocabulary from each unit. We ensure that children have a varied, progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum that provides the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the science national curriculum for KS1 and KS2. Most units are taught thematically to create wider connections with other subjects and the local context. We intend that children understand the uses and implications of science, and linked STEM careers, now and in the future.
Implementation
A love of science is nurtured at our school and children are encouraged to ask questions. The acquisition of key scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding is an integral part of every science lesson. Linked knowledge organisers enable children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit. The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. The progression of these skills is set out in the Science Progression Map. Each lesson has a clear focus. Scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with increasing depth and challenge as children move through the year groups. They complete investigations and hands-on activities while gaining the scientific knowledge for each unit. Interwoven through each lesson are key questions to assess the children’s levels of understanding and to review concepts where necessary. The sequence of lessons helps to embed scientific knowledge and skills, with each lesson building on previous learning. Activities are effectively scaffolded so that all children have an appropriate level of support and challenge. At St Mary and St Joseph’s we ensure teachers are equipped with secure scientific subject knowledge, enabling them to deliver high-quality teaching and learning opportunities while being aware of possible scientific misconceptions.
Impact
At St Mary and St Joseph’s, progress is measured through a child’s ability to know more, remember more and explain more. The use of questioning ensures opportunities are built into the lesson for ongoing assessment. Attainment and progress can be measured across the school using end of unit assessment questions and activities. The learning environment across the school is consistent with science technical vocabulary displayed, spoken and used by all learners. The impact of our science curriculum and teaching will be children who feel confident in their science knowledge and enquiry skills and are excited about science, show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the real world.