Science
Vision
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8
Through the teachings of Jesus, all can flourish spiritually, emotionally and academically throughout life, living out love and justice for all.Our Christian values of love, justice, compassion, wisdom, forgiveness and friendship underpin the life of the school community and impact on our daily lives. Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School strives to provide the best possible education for our children. We aim for excellence within our happy, secure school where each individual’s achievements are valued and celebrated. By using a holistic approach we will provide a curriculum that offers a diverse and challenging environment to inspire and motivate every child in our care.
Intent
At Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children by exciting pupil’s interests for natural phenomena and events in the world around them. Our fun, engaging, high-quality science education, provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding both the natural and human-made world, promoting a respect for living organisms. As one of the core subjects of the National Curriculum, we give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it requires.
Science lessons are designed to ensure that children acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the curriculum, as well as being equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses of science today and its implications for the future. This is achieved in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them. We endeavour to ensure that the science curriculum we provide gives children the confidence and motivation to continue to develop their skills into the next stage of education and consistently achieve highly.
Implementation
The study of science at Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School is based on the 2014 National Curriculum. All units of science from the National Curriculum are mapped out in the school’s long- term plan. The Science curriculum map ensures all the statutory content and skills are covered. The long-term plan incorporates the progression of scientific skills through each key stage and has been designed for progression of content between year groups. It also guarantees a range of disciplines are covered whilst stimulating children’s interests and helping them internalise their learning. All children receive the same curriculum offer.
Pupils to have access to a broad and balanced science curriculum which is adapted by teaching staff in accordance with the learning needs of the children across the school. Lessons are supplemented with extra resources and real-life experiences to maximise opportunities for practical work and cross-curricular links. Science is taught weekly, supplemented by whole school learning such as Health Week and COP initiatives, with many opportunities for the children to consolidate their knowledge and skills within other subjects.
The curriculum at Guilden Sutton Primary School is implemented through:
- Units which comprise of well planned, exciting, engaging and coherent sequences of lessons tailored specifically for our children to stretch and challenge all, including those with SEND.
- Lessons which draw upon and reinforce skills learnt in other subjects.
- Lessons which build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years.
- Regular feedback from teachers which not only addresses misconceptions but also deepens, challenges and supports learning.
- The use of knowledge dumps to assess prior knowledge at the beginning of each unit.
- The use of end of unit assessments to measure progression and understanding.
- Precise questioning is used to assess learning and retention.
- Blooms questions are used to extend and deepen children’s understanding and are incorporated into both planning and displays.
- Assessment criteria to support progression in scientific enquiry.
- The use of a range of resources to aid conceptual knowledge and scientific enquiry.
- Units of work which ensure relevant key scientific enquiry skills are taught.
- One or more scientists are incorporated into each unit of study to give the children firm and inspirational links with real-life. We strive to study a diverse range of scientists across the year groups.
- A strong focus on scientific vocabulary which is taught within the units, displayed in the classroom and consolidated wherever relevant.
- Yearly events, such as Health Week and bespoke fieldtrips, provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.
- Reading around the subject is promoted widely & often.
In EYFS, pupils learn about scientific ideas through the specific area ‘Understanding the World’ in the statutory framework. This is through whole class inputs and the indoor and outdoor provision. Learning is completed through capturing the children’s interests, relating it to personal experiences and allowing exploration, providing a solid foundation for more formal learning in KS1.
Impact
At Guilden Sutton CofE Primary school children will have the foundations for understanding the World and they will be enthusiastic about science lessons. Children will become increasingly critical and analytical within their thinking and be able to use a richer vocabulary to ask questions and articulate their understanding of taught concepts. Children will have a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills. Connections will be made between what children have previously learned and what they are currently learning which will embed scientific knowledge in their long-term memory. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND will achieve the best possible outcomes in science. Children will leave Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School with the skills, knowledge and attitude that will allow them embrace the next stage in their education. As a result of the scientists studied as part of each topic, children will have high aspirations and learn the possibilities for careers in science. Children will be able to read and comprehend scientific material with fluency and enjoyment. Here at Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School, our children are confident scientists and understand the purpose of science and how it can prepare them for the wider world. As a result of our science teaching at Guilden Sutton, the majority of children reach end of year expectations and achieve above the national average.
Impact is measured through:
- Assessing children’s understanding of a topic before and after the unit is taught.
- Marking of written work.
- Assessing children’s learning through questioning and discussion.
- Book scrutinies.
- Lesson observations and learning walks.
- Dialogues at staff meetings
- Formal reporting at the end of each key stage.
