Hareside Primary School

Science

Intent

At Hareside Primary School, we recognise and value the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As a core subject, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires, laying strong foundations in EYFS and building on these up until Year 6. Their science education forms an important entitlement for all of them. It is our intention to provide a high-quality science education that builds connected knowledge and key skills through concepts, deeper/blended learning and a hands-on, investigatory approach to teaching. We follow the current 2014 National Curriculum for Science, which aims to ensure all children:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through 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 scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.

Throughout their time at Hareside Primary, we develop children who are inquisitive and our curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe, promoting respect for the living and non-living.

Implementation

Throughout the programmes of study, the children acquire and develop key knowledge (substantive knowledge) that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills (disciplinary knowledge). These are very clearly set out in our science curriculum overview and are enhanced by vocabulary lists for each unit. This curriculum overview is reviewed annually. In each classroom, science is displayed to promote their current unit of learning. All KS1 and KS2 classes use dual objective planning which we believe is crucial to developing their substantive and disciplinary knowledge.

A successful scientist at Hareside Primary School: 

• has an enquiring, inquisitive mind
• can provide reasons for their thinking, using appropriate vocabulary
• has a good level of resilience, linking very closely to our school values
• has an enthusiasm for finding out more.

Science is taught in weekly lessons, usually lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours. This enables us build upon the children’s knowledge on a regular basis. The importance of science is also highlighted within our classroom and school displays. Where possible science units link with topic areas. (For example in Year 5 the children learn about Earth and Space in the Autumn/Winter so they can easily see the moon phases, in Year 3 the children study rocks and soils alongside The Stone Age and in Year 4 the children learn about states of matter before the sound unit so they can apply their understanding of the particle model.)

Professional development is an important ongoing process. The subject leader actively participates in a regional science network, which meets three times a year. The staff regularly receive science CPD led either by the coordinator or a specialist. Staff CPD is decided either through individual requests or learning walks/work scrutiny. Informal formative assessment of the children happens in every lesson and misconceptions are addressed. Formal summative assessment is carried out using an assessment grid. Specific science vocabulary is taught in each year group, this is progressive and part of the planning process. Science lessons are often based upon investigations, at least one every half term. All children are given the opportunity to access their year group’s science curriculum, differentiated through questioning and simplified responses.

The science curriculum is reviewed every year to reflect any national changes. Staff are given support materials to help. Eg each year group have been given a copy of Nicky Waller’s ‘A Creative Approach to Teaching Science.

Impact

 The impact of our science curriculum will show how much children enjoy their science lessons and can talk passionately about the subject. Our children will become inquisitive learners who are able to demonstrate a variety of scientific skills and understanding using the acquired vocabulary within lessons and topics. 

We use a range of strategies to assess what skills and knowledge the children have attained through each topic including the following:  

• Learning walks
• Talking to the pupils
• Talking to staff
• Looking through science books with the children
• Looking through formal assessments
• Class and whole school displays

Our science curriculum

Click here to see our science curriculum