Intent: 

Science is a fundamental part of everyday life and developing understanding in this area is essential for the future of our world. We aim to instill a love for science to broaden children’s interests and successes within STEM, to value the impact of it, and to know and understand how it is linked to our everyday lives. Our curriculum has been developed to provide fun, practical and engaging high-quality teaching, ensuring coverage of the knowledge prescribed within the National Curriculum and carefully planned progression of enquiry skills. This method of teaching also supports learning access for all pupils, including SEND, as well as offering challenges and greater thinking opportunities, for more able children. Through this, we are able to equip children with the essential characteristics to help them become scientists: 

• To develop scientific knowledge using first hand and concrete experiences, wherever possible. 
• To develop their conceptual understanding of science disciplines (biology, chemistry and physics), using different types of scientific enquiries. 
• To create and answer scientific questions about the world around them.  
• To broaden their understanding and use of scientific vocabulary. 
• To develop their understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science for each year group. 
• To develop critical and creative thinking skills.

Science at Forest View, is continually adapted and highlighted through gaining accreditation of the ‘Primary Science Quality Mark’. 

Implementation: 

In ensuring a high standard of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. 

Planning for science is a process in which all teachers are involved to ensure that the school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science 2014’ and, ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Science is taught as a discrete subject, for a minimum of 2 hours per week, to ensure coverage. Science units ensure progression between year groups and guarantees topics are covered.

The acquisition of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. At Forest View, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;

• We plan for real life opportunities that enable children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. Planning involves teachers creating practical, engaging lessons with opportunities for regular, precise questioning in class to assess conceptual knowledge and skills, and to identify those children with gaps in learning.
• Our curriculum is progressive. We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. Teachers identify misconceptions that need addressing at the start of each unit of work.
• Working scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed. New vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in keeping with the topics.
• Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts such as ‘Science Buddies’.
• Through enrichment days, such as ‘Science Week’ and through links with universities, we promote the profile of science and allow time for the children to freely explore scientific topics. 

 

Impact: 

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Our successful consistent approach, results in fun, engaging, hands on, high quality science education, which provides children with the foundations for understanding the world. We create a culture of high scientific aspirations, which will allow our students a platform to develop their scientific learning and careers, and to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts. 

Through a variety of well designed and well delivered science lessons, workshops, visitors, and trips, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children are aware of the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national and local agencies such as STEM learning, primary futures and NHS. This gives our children access to positive role models within the field of science.