Science

Our approach

 

At St. Mary’s, we understand that science is an integral part of our everyday lives. As such, we aim to inspire children to ask questions about the world they inhabit and then provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to answer those questions.

 

We take an investigative approach towards science, encouraging the children to learn new scientific skills, such as close observation, careful recording and designing investigations.

 

Science is one of the core subjects in the National Curriculum and is taught each week in all KS1 and KS2 classes. 

 

Intent

The National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all children:

• 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
• are equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this.

At SMBS, we aim to:

• encourage all children to be inquisitive, fostering their curiosity for Science and the world around them
• ensure that our pupils have a strong understanding of the world around them through the teaching of scientific skills and knowledge
• incorporate scientific skills in every lesson and develop the skills as children progress through the school from EYFS to Year 6.
• allow children to build on their prior knowledge and set them up for future learning in subsequent years, so that there is a learning journey from EYFS to Year 6 (and beyond)
• teach age-appropriate subject-specific vocabulary for topics, building upon these over time
• ensure that all groups of children in the school to achieve high standards in Science.

 

Implementation

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Science:

• There is a clear and comprehensive Science curriculum that is in keeping with the National Curriculum and where there is a progression of learning through the school (both knowledge and scientific skills).
• Children explicitly know what they are learning, why they are learning it and how they are learning it in every lesson.
• A holistic approach is taken to the teaching and learning of Science where children are given opportunities to reflect on previous learning and building upon this knowledge so that they can make links between different topic areas.
• Cross-curricular links are made regularly, allowing them to make further links between learning. Children complete a topic write once every half term, incorporate Maths were appropriate and also make links with other subject areas.
• A wide range of resources are used to aid the teaching and learning of Science so that children can embed scientific understanding and allowing them to work scientifically.
• Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum.
• Assessment is monitored regularly to inform future planning so that all children are able to make good progress and achieve high standards.

 

Impact

• All groups of children will make good progress in Science and the majority of children will achieve age-related expectations.
• Children will retain the knowledge that is taught in Science and build on these through their learning journey while also applying these to real life contexts.
• Children will be able to conduct investigations and find answers to scientific questions that are posed through hands-on and practical teaching and learning.
• Children will be able to explain processes with scientific reasoning, using the appropriate key vocabulary that they are taught.

 

How can parents help?

The topics covered in the science curriculum are wide and varied. They are also fun for all the family!

 

London is packed full of opportunities to explore cutting edge science. The Science Museum always has inspirational (and free) exhibitions. The Natural History Museum also covers some of the topics in our environmental science topics. The Royal Institution also provides a Young Scientist Centre to explore science technology outside the classroom. Why not take you child along to one of these venues?

 

At home, there are loads of videos you can watch, or activities you can be doing with your child using everyday items you can find in your home. Follow the links below to find out all about them.