Science at Whixall CE Primary School

Intent
At Whixall Primary School, we recognise the vital importance of science in our everyday lives. At the very core of all we do is our aim to develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery for all of our children. Our science teaching encourages our children to show respect for living organisms and the environment and provides opportunities for children to explore their world and all of its wonders. We foster children’s natural curiosity by planning a range of opportunities for them to actively carry out different types of scientific enquiries, ensuring that working scientifically and the application of knowledge are embedded into each aspect of the science curriculum. This is underpinned by the teaching of scientific vocabulary to enable our children to clearly describe ideas, objects and phenomena.

Implementation
At Whixall Primary School, 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 an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science through different types of scientific 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 and understand that scientific questions can be answered in a range of ways;
• use a range of methods to communicate and present their scientific information, including computing, diagrams, graphs, charts and a variety of written text types;
• work safely with equipment and materials, showing a developing understanding of risk assessment.

Our progression map for science clearly sets out the development of key scientific concepts and the progression from EYFS through to Year 6. By having these key threads of learning, the children revisit and secure their knowledge and understanding; always building on previous learning. Children are taught in half-termly or termly units, allowing them to be immersed in the concepts and develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of these key science ideas.

We measure the progress of each child’s ability to know more, remember more and be able to explain more.  Pre and post assessments allow each child’s progress with their scientific knowledge to be tracked carefully.  Alongside our assessments for the acquisition of key scientific knowledge, we also track the progress of individual children’s scientific working skills.

Impact
Through our inspiring science curriculum, we strive to give all of our children the confidence, motivation and enthusiasm for scientific learning which they will take with them on their continued educational journey and into their wider lives.

 

 

 

Science Long-Term Plan