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At Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard we follow National Curriculum guidance to ensure total coverage of Science content in our school. We strive for excellence by working collaboratively with our primary years programme, to be ambitious beyond the National Curriculum. The principal focus for our EYFS is to learn foundation knowledge through understanding the world, providing rich context and a range of vocabulary. KS1 builds on this vocabulary to start building scientific concepts, looking more closely at the natural and human world to deepen their knowledge. For KS2 it is a principal focus to continue to develop their deep understanding of the wide range of scientific knowledge and ideas. Particularly in upper KS2, the goal is to prepare children for secondary science learning by encouraging scientific reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving to aid them in remedying their misconceptions independently.
The curriculum is sequenced to reflect the hierarchical nature of knowledge within the science disciplines. The transdisciplinary approach from the PYP, enables pupils to develop an extensive and connected knowledge base which advances over time. Disciplinary knowledge is explicitly taught through most appropriate substantive context.
Intent:
Maintain high standards of knowledge, teaching and hierarchical learning to ensure progression through the specific disciplines of science.
Maintain international mindedness by understanding science advances internationally and how that looked in the past, today and for the future.
Refine scientific disciplinary knowledge and vocabulary, and how this progresses throughout the school.
EYFS:
The principal focus is to learn foundation knowledge through understanding the world, providing rich context, opportunities for independent and guided exploration and a wide range of vocabulary. It also includes developing an understanding of some important processes and changes in the world around them.
Key Stage 1:
The principal focus of science teaching in Key Stage 1 is to equip pupils with the vocabulary to start building scientific concepts, looking more closely at the natural and human world to deepen their knowledge through a range of experiences and learning opportunities.
Lower Key Stage 2:
The principal focus is to continue to develop their deep understanding of the wide range of scientific knowledge and ideas, through a range of scientific concepts and progressive vocabulary.
Upper Key Stage 2:
The principal focus of science teaching in upper Key Stage 2 is to enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific concepts. To prepare children for secondary science learning by encouraging them to scientifically reason their ideas, think critically and problem solve to aid them in explaining common misconceptions or corroborating their conclusions.
Implementation
Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
Where an authentic and meaningful link cannot be made from a single subject to a transdisciplinary unit of inquiry, disciplinary knowledge is explicitly taught through most appropriate substantive context.
Existing knowledge is checked at the beginning of each topic through means of child led enquiry and questioning. This ensures that the children are accountable for their learning, and that the teaching is informed by the children’s starting points that it takes account of pupil voice, incorporating children’s interests.
Through the PYP approach, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge, and find out answers 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. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom.
We use a variety of external resources such as Reach Out CPD and Explorify in our lessons to promote deeper understanding through a range of activities that are engaging and interactive.
Scientific disciplinary knowledge is embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career. When this does not directly link with the PYP themes, it is taught exclusively and this is mapped throughout the academic year.
Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and work with engaging planning and slides to maintain good pace in all science lessons to maintain an engaging learning environment for all abilities.
At the end of each topic or theme, key knowledge is reviewed by the children through a Milestone task.
Impact
The successful approach at Cherry Orchard results in an engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world.
The impact will be measured through the following ways:
Pupil voice and engagement
Book looks and ‘Learning Journey’ walks
Termly milestone tasks
Regular reflections from staff and pupils
Lesson observations and learning walks
Ongoing CPD opportunities for staff both internally and externally.
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