Welcome to Science

Introduction, Vision and Philosophy

At Ark Oval Primary, we believe that science has a vital role in allowing children to understand the world around them. We aim to provide children with a knowledge, skills and language rich curriculum in science, which allows the children to leave the school at the end of Year 6 with a clear understanding of science, its importance in their lives, and the curiosity and inspiration to want to know more about the everchanging world around them.

We want our children to be involved in an engaging curriculum that will build, develop and promote their knowledge; therefore, Science in our school is about developing children’s subject knowledge and ideas through their own curiosity and questioning. We want our pupils to use their scientific knowledge and investigative and experimenting skills to challenge ideas and theories as well as a to devise practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us through experimental testing of ideas.

Through our sequenced learning journey, we aim to provide children with a range of opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom, to acquire new knowledge and skills to aid future learning and employment. We want our children to be armed with the knowledge on which to build their own point of inquiry. We want our pupils not merely to be able to repeat facts and memorised knowledge. We want them to be driven on to question, ‘What next...?’ or ‘What if...?’

Implementation

What does Science look like at Ark Oval Primary?

Science learning begins in the EYFS and continues throughout the children’s education at Ark Oval Primary through a curriculum which revisits, builds on and deepens topics as the children progress through the years.

In EYFS, Science builds on the Early Learning Goals for Understanding the World. In accordance with the EYFS framework, science is approached through exploration, investigation, and observation. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them, ask questions, and make discoveries. Key areas of learning include: understanding the world, by observing and exploring the environment, people, animals, plants, and materials; knowledge and understanding of the world, where children learn about their immediate environment and the wider world, including different cultures, communities, and the natural world; and the natural world, where activities may include exploring nature, investigating materials, experimenting with water and sand, and learning about living things.

 In Key Stage One, pupils observe, explore and ask questions about living things, materials and the world around them. They begin to work together to collect evidence to help them answer questions, find patterns, classify and group objects, research using a variety of sources and carry out fair testing. Pupils use reference materials to find out more about scientific ideas. They share their ideas and communicate them using scientific language, drawings, charts and tables. Pupils may use the outdoor areas in their science learning.

In Key Stage Two, pupils are encouraged to extend the scientific questions that they ask about the world around them. As well as deepening their scientific knowledge, pupils use a range of science skills to carry out a variety of scientific enquiries including observations over time, pattern seeking, classifying, grouping and researching using other sources (including computing resources). Pupils in Key Stage Two learn to plan science investigations by only changing one variable to make it a fair test.

Our lessons are scaffolded to support and allow children to access the learning, ensuring that vocabulary is at the forefront of our lessons and children understand the scientific vocabulary in the lessons. The adaptations in our lessons enable the curriculum to set a high ceiling, pushing children to be their best.

Impact:

In KS1 and KS2, the National Curriculum sets out the science content and working scientifically statements that pupils are expected to achieve. The science curriculum will make a profound and positive impact on the outcomes of every child and the spiral structure enables us to return to core knowledge and skills throughout the course, embedding key practises and understanding.

Each lesson includes several opportunities for pair, group and independent learning. The children’s independent learning is evidenced in through either photographic or written output, this is assessed during and after the lesson. Practical science work, where appropriate, will also be recorded in science books with written or photographic evidence.

Core knowledge of each unit is supported by a Knowledge Organiser which details the key learning points and vocabulary. It is our expectation that the knowledge on our organiser is referred to during the lessons so that all children become familiar with it.

We endeavour to create strong and appropriate links with other subjects to enhance the curriculum and learning experience, predominantly but not exclusively with maths, literacy, music, PSHE, topic and PE.

The children’s learning is assessed though formative and summative assessments. Each lesson begins with a recall of previous learning in the form of a multiple-choice quiz which is assessed on completion, and which serves as an assessment of the children’s previous learning. The lessons also include several opportunities for formative assessments, allowing for misconceptions to be identified and addressed, and all written input is assessed.

Finally, summative assessments are carried out at the end of every topic. Scores are then collated and accompany teachers’ assessment in assessing the children’s progress.