Science
' It is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree - make sure you understand the fundamental principles, i.e. the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves/details or there is nothing for them to hang on to.'
Elon Musk
Science Curriculum
Subject Leader for Science: Miss Logue
Intent - What are we trying to achieve?
At St Michael and St Martin Primary School, our intent is to foster a deep understanding and a lifelong curiosity in pupils about the world around them. We aim to inspire and engage every pupil in high-quality science education, ensuring they develop the essential knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to become scientifically-literate global citizens. As one of the core subjects taught in our school, we give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it deserves.
The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:
- develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
- develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
At St Michael & St Martin, we aim for our pupils to develop both their substantive and disciplinary knowledge through our science curriculum.
Substantive knowledge refers to pupils’ scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding, i.e. what pupils know and remember.
Disciplinary knowledge refers to pupils’ ability to work scientifically; they will develop their enquiry skills through various enquiry methods.
Each year group has two blocks dedicated to sustainability. We want to help children to:
- Understand the current issues around sustainability and climate change.
- Identify that they have a role to play in creating a more sustainable future for themselves and others.
- Think of ways to make a positive impact on their local and wider environments.
- Have a positive and proactive mindset when it comes to making sustainable changes.
- Sustainability ties in with the third aim of science from the NC: 'understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future'.
Sustainability also complements the Catholic values of St Michael and St Martin by promoting stewardship of the Earth and the care of all creation, in alignment with the Church's teachings on environmental responsibility (Pope Francis’ Laudato Sí encyclical).
Implementation - How is the curriculum being delivered?
To ensure the successful implementation of our science curriculum, we employ the following strategies:
Effective Planning: Our school follows the White Rose Education science schemes of work and teachers collaborate to plan tailored learning experiences for our pupils. Our ambitious and coherent science curriculum builds systematically on prior learning through a series of ‘small steps’ within each block of learning, ensuring a smooth progression of knowledge and skills from EYFS to Key Stage 2. Our long-term planning incorporates relevant topics and provides opportunities for depth of learning.
Explicit Teaching: Our teachers adopt a range of teaching strategies to make scientific concepts accessible to all pupils. They use high-quality resources and provide opportunities for direct instruction, guided practice, and independent exploration. Modelling is used wherever possible to explain abstract scientific ideas and concepts. This makes it easier for children to apply their knowledge and improve their understanding.
Practical Experiences: We prioritise practical experiences to engage pupils in the process of scientific discovery. Research shows that children learn best from a ‘hands on and heads on’ approach whereby practical activities are engaging and relevant. This features throughout our curriculum; children carry out experiments following a plan, investigate and evaluate (KS2) model. Children plan their investigations, carry out their experiments and conclude and provide evaluations.
Throughout their time at St Michael and St Martin, pupils will develop the following enquiry skills as outlined by the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT):
- Asking questions
- Making predictions
- Setting up tests
- Measuring and observing
- Recording data
- Interpreting and communicating results
- Evaluating
There is one enquiry question per block covering the six enquiry types outlined by the PSTT. This allows children to develop answers to a range of relevant scientific questions.
Inclusive Strategies: We adapt our teaching to meet the needs of all pupils, ensuring that support and challenge are provided appropriately. We offer engaging and accessible resources, adapt activities and use questioning techniques to scaffold learning, and provide targeted interventions for those who require additional support.
ICT Integration: We integrate appropriate technology, such as data logging and virtual experiments, to enhance practical work and promote independent learning. We provide opportunities for pupils to use ICT to collect, analyse, and present data, improving their data-handling skills.
Assessment for Learning: Regular formative and summative assessment methods inform our teaching and help us identify pupils who need additional support or further challenge. We use a range of assessment strategies, including observations, questioning, written work, practical activities, and tests, to assess pupils' substantive knowledge, disciplinary skills, and scientific understanding.
Impact - What difference is the curriculum making?
The impact of our ambitious science curriculum is witnessed through the following outcomes:
Pupil Achievement: Our pupils develop a secure understanding of scientific concepts across the breadth of biology, chemistry, and physics. They demonstrate good knowledge and understanding, apply scientific vocabulary confidently, and develop a range of scientific skills, including investigation and problem-solving.
Enthusiasm and Engagement: Pupils exhibit a genuine enthusiasm for science, actively participating in lessons and showing curiosity in exploring the natural world. They understand the relevance of science to their everyday lives, develop a love for learning, and are motivated to pursue science-related careers or further study.
High Standards: Pupils achieve high standards in science, which are above national expectations. They make significant progress from their starting points, regardless of their starting points, specific needs, background, or ability. We address underachievement promptly by providing effective interventions and targeted support.
Literacy and Numeracy: Pupils' literacy and numeracy skills improve through cross-curricular links in Science. Through scientific reading and writing, they develop scientific vocabulary, comprehension skills, and accurate scientific reporting. They also enhance their numeracy skills through data analysis and interpretation.
Pupil Voice: Pupils articulate their scientific ideas and explanations confidently, demonstrating a secure grasp of subject knowledge. They engage in scientific discussions, actively participate in debates, and ask insightful questions as they develop their scientific thinking and communication skills.
Positive Attitudes: Pupils develop positive attitudes towards scientific enquiry, taking calculated risks and learning from their mistakes. They display resilience, perseverance, and adaptability in solving problems and seek opportunities to apply their scientific understanding across the curriculum.
How do the pupils at St Michael and St Martin Catholic Primary School develop the school ‘STRIVE’ values through Science?
Our children strive to be:
- Spiritual - We learn about and put into practice ways of caring for our environment, protecting God's precious creation and carrying out his holy will.
- Thinkers - We work hard to plan investigations, gathering and analysing data as well as evaluating practical work.
- Resilient - We involve problem solving opportunities, allowing children to find out for themselves how to answer questions in a variety of practical means.
- Independent - Students are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given appropriate equipment to use their scientific skills to discover the answers.
- Valued - We encourage students to take an active role in growing the science through the school through the use of pupil voice and science ambassador roles. Teachers also recognise individual efforts by granting a scientist of the week certificate.
- Empathetic - Students have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Our green team is on the case!