Science

Our school definition of Science: 

Science is the study and understanding of the world around us through observation and experimentation.

3 I'S STATEMENT AND SUBJECT PROGRESSION DOCUMENTS

Intent Statement - Science

At St Joseph’s Primary School, our children are Scientists! It is our intention to provide a high quality Science education. This will provide our children with the foundations they need to recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life and have a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

Through the curriculum our children will develop a passion for Science. We will provide our children with a variety of opportunities where they can fully immerse themselves in their learning. We want our children to remember their Science lessons in school, to be able to look back in years to come and cherish the memories they have.

Our aim at St Joseph’s is for our children to be ambitious individuals, who always aim high and have no limits when thinking about who they strive to be when they grow up, whether that is an astronaut, forensic scientists, or microbiologists. To achieve this, we ensure exciting, practical hands on experiences are offered which encourage curiosity and questioning. These stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love and thirst for learning. At St Joseph’s, our Commando Joe’s curriculum is used to link to science learning where ever possible. This has been carefully designed and developed with the need of every child at the centre of what we do. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. The National Curriculum objectives have been closely tracked to ensure coverage throughout each Key Stage and this can be seen on the progression maps below. 

Implementation Statement - Science

• At St Joseph’s, Science is taught in all year groups from the early years to year six. The Science units are linked carefully to our Commando Joe’s scheme of work and meet all the National Curriculum requirements.
• Additional theme weeks and focus weeks for Science are also built into our curriculum. Please see our curriculum portfolio for further information. 
• Each pupil will have a Science book where lessons will be evidenced.
• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills. We use the Rainbow Continuum to ensure the progression of Science objectives.
• Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
• Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
• In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
• We use Practice/ Going Deeper opportunities to ensure understanding and skills are kept up to date and relevant for our science objectives.
• At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
• All staff have access to the National College where they will have the opportunity to develop their subject knowledge in different areas of learning. It also ensures high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.
• Children will have opportunities to use ClickView videos to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of Science.
• To support teaching, teachers access a range of resources and planning from the Commando Joe’s Curriculum.
• Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum.
• Topic and theme days are built in at least termly to ensure that relevant links are made to world events and current foci impacting on the children’s lives.
• Science afterschool clubs will take place for each key stage throughout the year. This will help to promote the love for science.
• Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.
• Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
• Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.
• Children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the learning intention with differing elements of independence.
• Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.
• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths, English and Computing.
• Children are assessed against the taught objectives termly and are assessed as working above, at or below.

Impact Statement - Science 

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to our children at St Joseph’s making outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave St Joseph’s reaching at least age related expectations for Science. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, our Science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners and understand that Science has changed our lives; that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. We want to empower our children so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work and their overwhelming enjoyment for Science.

Please see the Subject Progression Document for Science below...