Science at simonstone st. peters
subject leadership
Mrs J Cockings (Head Teacher)
Mrs L Evans (Science link Governor)
intent
We are Scientists!
Simonstone St Peter’s provides an ambitious and meaningful science curriculum. It is based on a knowledge and skills framework, with interwoven connections to other curriculum subjects. Children are inspired by science and learn and understand through a carefully sequenced curriculum. The curriculum shows progression within each year group, each key stage and whole school provision. There are clear endpoint and expectations, providing robust building blocks for all children. Scientific vocabulary is carefully mapped alongside the curriculum and children are given opportunities to articulate their learning with confidence.
Within the Science curriculum, memorable moments are created. These include the use of our local area, the conservation area and science visitors. Scientific projects are encouraged, homework is set through pick and mix tasks and trips are organised to support the science curriculum.
Science at Simonstone St Peter’s is broad, varied and engaging, allowing all children to learn with confidence and value the world we share. The curriculum intent is clear to all staff and the implementation is monitored through lesson observations and book scrutiny. The impact of the curriculum is assessed termly and shared through class transitions. Examples of skills are moderated and collected termly. Our ambitious curriculum allows all children to achieve and key skills are revisited and developed.
Science is a body of knowledge built up through experimental testing of ideas. Science is also methodology, a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us. Science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation, as well as using and applying process skills.
We believe that a broad and balanced Science education is the entitlement of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability. Our aims in teaching science include the following.
- Preparing our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
- Fostering concern about, and active care for, our environment.
- Helping our children acquire a growing understanding of scientific ideas.
- Helping develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
- Developing our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science.
implementation
Attitudes
- Encouraging the development of positive attitudes to science.
- Building on our children’s natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems.
- Encouraging open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and responsibility.
- Building our children’s self-confidence to enable them to work independently.
- Developing our children’s social skills to work cooperatively with others.
- Providing our children with an enjoyable experience of science, so that they will develop a deep and lasting interest and may be motivated to study science further.
Skills
- Giving our children an understanding of scientific processes.
- Helping our children to acquire practical scientific skills.
- Developing the skills of investigation - including observing, measuring, predicting, hypothesising, experimenting, communicating, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.
- Developing the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
- Developing the use of ICT in investigating and recording.
- Enabling our children to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data.
Aims
The national curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:
- 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 specific questions about the world around them.
- Are all equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Knowledge Maps
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
|
|
|
Year 1- Plants
impact
We have designed our curriculum to ensure Science is taught consistently across school.
We have used the National Curriculum Alongside the Lancashire KLIPS to ensure progression from EYFS to year 6
As of March 2023, we have joined a Ribble Valley STEM enthuse partnership which is will enable us to provide resources, CPD, support and guidance for non-specialist Science teachers.
We have created Knowledge Maps which offer a clear structure and sequence for staff to follow. The units have been planned in an order that best works with the main curriculum connectors.. This now ensures that we are evidencing clear progression within science, including Knowledge organisers to support children’s key vocabulary and scientific understanding. Science books have been monitored and feedback provided to teachers in staff meetings to ensure our planning and delivery meets the needs of our children. The planning, teaching and learning is adapted to suit the needs of our children. The Knowledge maps have given staff the confidence to ensure the progression is clear and they are beginning to become much more confident in delivering Science lessons.
Other measures of impact in science:
Termly monitoring and evaluations tasks
Teachers’ notes and pupil task sheets have been adapted to the needs of our children.
We use ICT widely in science. Children are given the opportunity to practise science skills and enhance their presentation using carefully-chosen Apps.
We use ICT for enquiry work, including microscopes with digital cameras, video capture of images and activities.
The school combines these secondary sources with first-hand scientific enquiries, building children’s science skills.
We actively teach science skills, and reinforce learning with selected enquiry simulations.
We encourage children to ask and answer their own questions - encouraging investigation.
Children complete at least two full enquiries each term, taking increasing responsibility for their planning, carrying them out and recording/interpreting the results.
We use homework to support school and class activities. This relates to the school’s overall homework policy.
We use cross-curricular links to science with, for example, design and technology units.
We develop science informally through science clubs, British Association of Young Scientists membership, local Wildlife Trust membership, school visits, parent meetings and other out-of-school activities.
