Science

Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Martham Academy, we want our students to be hooked and fascinated by Science, leading them to enjoy discovering the inner workings of their universe and attain highly.  Secondly, we want our children to be excellent scientists, able to discover how the world works through scientific inquiry. 

Implementation

The curriculum is ambitious, extending beyond the national curriculum in order to provide deeper and wider understanding where appropriate. The learning is interlinked and woven together through the use of reactivation sessions and activities at the beginning of units, reminding children of previous learning and helping to reactivate previous knowledge as a solid foundation before new learning begins. Important ideas are overtaught to embed them, such as cells recurring throughout the biology units with increasing complexity given to its definition as children progress through the biology curriculum. Each half term, the next units are planned for teachers by a subject expert (Science degree and experience of teaching highschool Science). The vocabulary is designed to include the key ideas from the learning objectives, meaning the vocabulary can be revised throughout the unit and key ideas will also be embedded.  The same is true for the disciplinary (working scientifically) language, which is taught alongside the substantive units and focussed on for one half term. Substantive units are planned to follow a logical sequence, building on knowledge in later lessons and are concluded by revising and assessing our learning. Lessons begin with effective reviewing of previously learnt vocabulary and therefore key ideas as well to help ideas embed. Teaching within lessons is chunked to aid with cognitive load. Children actively learn new vocabulary and ideas, regularly articulating their new learning verbally and then in books. Where key substantive  ideas are taught, practicals are used to reinforce these ideas as well as give opportunities to build disciplinary knowledge. KS2 children are able to apply and reinforce reading skills in units to help learn new ideas.

Impact

The intended impact is for the majority of children in each year group to be working at or above the expected standards for their age. In addition to this, we want them to be inspired by all areas of Science. Children will be able to show progression in their subject knowledge and skills and discuss their learning. All key concepts will become embedded into their long term memory to be drawn upon and applied in the future.

Overview

Progression in Science

Under construction