Science

Intent:
Science encourages children to ask questions and explore and understand the world around them, in addition to developing life-long problem-solving skills. It is through the implementation of our science curriculum that we hope to encourage and achieve the following aims for our pupils:

Develop enquiring minds.
Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of their world, 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 answer scientific questions about the world.
Ensure pupils are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, for both today and the future.
Evaluate evidence and present conclusions clearly and accurately.
Work carefully and safely.

We are members of Science Oxford and actively seek out opportunities for our children to develop their science capital in school.

Implementation:
We use a variety of teaching and learning styles in science to ensure each of our pupils is able to develop their scientific skills and understanding. Our principal aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding. We aim to teach scientific enquiry through whole-class teaching and practical activities. Children are encouraged to use a variety of data including graphs, diagrams, photographs and statistics. Where appropriate, children use ICT in science lessons to enhance their learning. During lessons, children may work on their own, in pairs or as part of a group depending on the task and nature of the lesson.

Impact:
We assess children’s work in science by making informed judgments as we observe them during lessons. On completion of a piece of work, the teacher marks it in line with the school’s marking policy. Work may also sometimes be peer or self-marked if appropriate and discussed in groups or as a whole class. Each child in the school has a science ladder linked to the national curriculum and details objectives they will cover within each topic. When a child achieves an objective their class teacher highlights it with a green pen. Science ladders are kept in the back of the children’s science books providing easy access for pupils, teachers and parents to identify where a child is in their learning journey and attainment. We give our pupils the opportunity to demonstrate their scientific knowledge, skills and understanding in a variety of ways so we can accurately assess their attainment.

Inclusion:
To cater for children of different abilities, we ensure learning opportunities are matched to the needs of children in our school, taking into account the targets in children’s IEPs. For example, this may include the pre-teaching of scientific vocabulary, the use of concrete resources to reinforce theoretical concepts or working in small groups with adult support. We also aim to be proactive in identifying learning opportunities that will challenge our more able children. For example, planning differentiated outcomes which will stretch and challenge their understanding etc.