SCIENCE

Intent 

At The Promise School, we recognise the importance of a high-quality Science education. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we will give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires, teaching the foundations for understanding the world through the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. By building a key foundation of knowledge, of concepts, methods, processes and uses of science, it is our belief and aim that pupils should develop a natural excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. Children will be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes through the teaching of the statutory content of the National Curriculum with an aim to promote understanding and experience of science careers and pathways.

Implementation

Developing Understanding and Knowledge

At The Promise School we will meet the objectives of the National Curriculum through our own Base Curriculum developed collaboratively by Science Leaders within The Dartmoor Academy Trust. As specified by the National Curriculum, the Base Curriculum aims 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.
• Ensure children are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

The Base Curriculum

The Base Curriculum provides a strong foundation for teaching progression from one year to the next within set topic areas.

Developing Scientific Skills

Through these topics, children will develop concepts, methods and processes through five key forms of enquiry as they progress through the year groups. Enquiry is used to gain experience and consolidate knowledge but also to develop pupils’ skills in working scientifically to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.  Our key forms of enquiry are:

• Comparative and fair testing.
• Research
• Observation over time
• Pattern seeking
• Identifying, grouping and classifying

Building Scientific Vocabulary

The use of scientific language is key to progression and understanding.  Children are taught to use a wide and increasingly scientific vocabulary as they progress to describe ideas, objects and phenomena – this is carefully and sequentially planned from year to year.

Assessment

Each unit’s learning is set out clearly using Knowledge Organisers that cite key learning objectives. Children’s knowledge and understanding of each topic area are assessed both before a unit and at the end of each unit.  Formative assessment also takes place through the teaching sequence through quizzes or extended pieces of writing.

Impact 

Children will have gained scientific knowledge and skills in line with the statutory content of the National Curriculum for Key stage 1 and 2 by the end of their primary learning at The Promise School. Having learnt the foundations of knowledge necessary to study Biology, Physics and Chemistry in their future educational life they will be confident in enquiry and the use of scientific language. Pupils will have met scientists working within their own communities and will have knowledge of possible career aspirations and pathways.