Science

Why our Science Curriculum looks like this? 

Science teaching at St Mary and John aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future. At St Mary and John, we will deliver a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts through progressive, enquiry led learning. Pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. We will encourage pupils, from the EYFS, through to KS2, to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. 

How Science is taught at St. Mary and St John Catholic Primary School?

• To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is clear and progressive throughout the school. Our Science curriculum provides a clear and comprehensive scheme of work beginning in the EYFS, that will show progression of skills across all key stages and aspects of Science. 

• Teachers plan to develop pupil’s understanding of scientific ideas by using different types of scientific enquiry to answer their own questions, including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information.

• Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom.

• Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. 

• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons through our ‘Science Enquiry Team’ to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. 

• Trips and visits from experts are arranged who will enhance the learning experience. 

• At St Mary and St John we have worked hard as a staff to enhance our curriculum and provide opportunities for pupils of all abilities to enjoy and excel within science.

• We will provide challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner. 

How will we measure the impact of our Science Curriculum? 

• At St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School, we have devised a subject specific Assessment Tracker that determines children’s development of skills, understanding and informs teachers planning. 

• This is completed on a termly basis by the class teacher, and is shared with Subject Leaders and SLT. 

• Subject Leaders also carry out regular learning walks, Book Looks, lesson observations and pupil discussions. 

• Book Swaps are a regular feature in our Staff Meeting time and provide valuable opportunity to review our curriculum and ensure high quality of Science teaching and learning is taking place in all year groups.

• Action Plans are reviewed termly by Subject Leaders and shared annually with Governors.

 • The successful approach at St Mary and John results in a fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. 

• Children will learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive enquiry led learning is embedded throughout the science curriculum.

 • Children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and continues to do so daily, and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. 

At St Mary and St John we hope to inspire pupils with a life-long love and understanding of Science and to equip them with a wide breadth of knowledge and experiences that will prepare them for their Secondary education. We hope to extend pupils’ experiences and awareness beyond their own lives and into the wider world. We will encourage children to think about how Science can drastically affect and improve their everyday lives, both now and in the future