Science Curriculum Statement

Science Curriculum Statement

At Bearsted Primary Academy, we want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners of Science, and to be eager to achieve their very best in order to fulfil their considerable potential. We firmly believe that the recipe for success is high quality first-wave teaching in Science, which is central to the life of our happy, caring academy.

Intent

At Bearsted Primary Academy, we aim to give every child the very best start to their education and believe that every child can access our curriculum. The school aims to ensure that science teaching is vibrant and engaging to foster curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm and independence. Pupils will gain science capital and develop specific scientific skills and knowledge from a variety of well planned and resourced lessons. The children will develop their IB learner profiles through science opportunities; they will develop an appreciation and awareness of the world from a scientific standpoint and a sense of responsibility regarding the global impact of human activity. Integral to the subject will be an appreciation of the contribution to science from people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and the opportunities available for careers in science.

• Our science curriculum is underpinned by the key foundational knowledge and concepts, both substantive and disciplinary, as set out in the National Curriculum.

• The curriculum is taught through the Primary Years Programme (PYP), providing the framework for a range of hands-on engaging opportunities which will develop pupils’ science capital. This learning stimulates pupils’ curiosity to further inquire about the world around them, developing a life-long love of science.

• Pupils will develop an appreciation and awareness of the world from a scientific standpoint. Reflection on scientific knowledge also helps students to develop a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of their actions on themselves, others and their world.

• Integral to the subject will be an appreciation of the contribution to science from people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and the opportunities available for careers in science.

Implementation:

• We build upon the foundational knowledge that our pupils develop during the Early Years Foundation Stage. Additionally each year group build upon the learning from prior year groups, developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.

• At the start of each inquiry or study, children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know.

• Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

• Children develop working scientifically to 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.

• Discreet scientific knowledge is taught alongside our interdisciplimary approach to learning.

• Carefully designed, interleaved learning in science ensures consistency and progress of all learners.

• 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 intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.

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

• The subject leader for Science will meet the senior leadership team and repesentatives from the Trust on a regular basis to evaluate provision in order to ensure that teaching and learning in Science is highly effective.

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

Assessment

Each lesson will include high quality teaching and conferencing. Teachers are able to respond to the needs of the pupils within each class and ensures any misconceptions are identified and addressed quickly.

Cultural Capital

With our firm belief that knowledge is transferable, our pupils are given every opportunity to participate in a wide range of learning experiences beyond their classroom.

Bearsted Primary Academy has constructed a science curriculum that is designed to give all pupils, particularly the disadvantaged, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.

Impact:

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time, across phases and key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will be able to remember more and do more. 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.

Knowledge Pathways for Science:
https://sites.google.com/latrust.org.uk/knowledge-pathways/science