Intent

At Heron Way our aim for all children is to enjoy and have a deep understanding of fundamental scientific concepts and investigative skills when they leave for secondary school. We want the children to see that science is part of their everyday life and develop an enquiring mind to ask questions and seek to investigate to find the answers. Throughout their journey of science, children will be able to identify which scientific enquiry method they are using within investigations and be able to decide which one they should use when planning their own. 

Implementation

At Heron Way, Science topics are taught within each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum. Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.

• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.

• Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.

• Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.

• In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.

• At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.

• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.

• Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum.

• Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.

• Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning objective, with misconceptions addressed within it.

• Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.

• Children are given clear success criteria/ steps to success, in order to achieve the learning objective with differing elements of independence.

• Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.

• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths, Literacy and ICT.

• Our Core Subject Assessment Tracker allows us to use data to inform future practice.

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. Children will therefore be expected to leave Heron Way reaching at least age-related expectations for science. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts our science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.

We want to empower our children, so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.