Withycombe Raleigh
C of E Primary School
Headteacher Mrs E Jones
Science
Intent
At Withycombe primary school our children are scientists! Our intent is to provide a broad and balanced science curriculum which progresses skills, knowledge, scientific vocabulary and a love of learning. We want our children to confidently explore the world around them so they develop a deeper understanding of the world they live in. We believe in building a strong foundation, beginning with learning through play and exploring in the EYFS, to give children the tools to confidently explore and discover, whilst developing enquiring minds as they progress through the school. We want our children at Withycombe to love science, to have no limits to what their ambitions might be and to remember and cherish their science lessons. Our aim is to make these lessons as exciting and engaging as possible in every year group, providing stimulating and challenging experiences that develop their knowledge and vocabulary, curiosity and questioning.
We believe in developing skills and knowledge alongside one another with skills that are transferable to different areas of learning, through a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum which has been developed to be inclusive of the needs of every child.
An important aspect of science in Withycombe is to capture the awe and wonder of the everyday, linking this to scientific concepts but also to the spirituality we aim to develop in every year group. Stopping to ponder the ‘awe’ful and the awful in everyday life and showing the children that science is all around us everyday.
Implementation
At Withycombe we teach science for an hour a week, in accordance with the National Curriculum.
Learning is accessible for all through a varied curriculum and adaptive teaching including scaffolded support.
We start each unit by reviewing children’s previous learning and sharing what they already know about a new topic. We follow the White Rose Science Scheme and we actively encourage ‘hands-on’ practical learning.
Every year group builds upon the learning from prior year groups, developing depth of understanding and progression of skills. The children are also given regular opportunities to review the learning that has taken place in previous topics and lessons.
Children are given ‘Mind Maps’ at the start of each topic to support acquisition of knowledge and to be used as a support tool during lessons.
At the beginning of each lesson, the school’s shared definition of science is recapped so that children understand that science is “learning about the world and how things work, through observations and experimentation” (“looking and testing” in KS1).
The science learning is modelled by teachers who are then able to address misconceptions and tailor the learning to each child's individual needs and ensure it is accessible for all children.
Children question, predict and carry out investigations as well as concluding their findings. They are encouraged to present their findings using scientific and appropriate language, alongside pictures and diagrams.
To support teaching, teachers access resources and planning from the White Rose Science Scheme which are age-appropriate and allow for continuity throughout the school. CPD is also provided for teachers to ensure levels of knowledge and confidence are maintained.
Assessment runs through each unit; this is then used to inform planning and to address any misconceptions or individual needs. Each class has a clear assessment proforma which enables teachers to track the learning of individual children and plan for effective future teaching and learning. The same proforma is used throughout the school so progress can be easily seen across year groups.
Cross curricular links are carefully thought out and planned throughout the year to ensure children are able to make links in their learning and connect to the wider world.
Impact
Through our implementation children have a secure knowledge of science concepts and will have built a set of transferrable enquiry skills. We hope they are able to talk excitedly about what they have learned and use a range of age appropriate vocabulary to go with this. Our aim is that children have learned and remembered new concepts and be enthusiastic science learners.
We aim to foster children who are independent thinkers and who question the world around them, making connections in their learning with skills which are transferable across the curriculum. We aim to teach our children to care for the planet they live on and question why things happen and how things work. The impact of this will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point. This will be evidenced in a range of ways but most importantly by speaking to the children who have a love and excitement for science!