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‘Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.’

 Intent

The aim and purpose of teaching Science at Redfield Edge is to provide opportunities for children to develop knowledge and understanding of important ideas, processes and skills and relate them to everyday experiences.

Science changes our lives on a daily basis and is vital to the world’s future prosperity and sustainability.

At Redfield Edge Primary School, scientific enquiry skills are embedded on a termly basis, sometimes discretely and when appropriate, through topics. Many key concepts are revisited and developed throughout a pupils’ time at school. Topics, such as plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This allows pupils to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this knowledge into the long-term memory.

We learn about the ways of thinking, enquiring and communicating scientific ideas. They should be encouraged to understand how Science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

We also explore our values and attitudes through our science lessons.

At Redfield Edge, we encourage children to develop their interest in Science through first-hand experiences, allowing them to observe, question, hypothesise and record their findings effectively.

Implementation

Teachers create positive attitudes to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in science.

Lessons are taught weekly or blocked over a few days and are linked with topics wherever possible. Some units are taught discretely.

Working scientifically skills are embedded through lessons (with at least three investigations per term) to ensure they are developed upon year on year with new vocabulary and challenging concepts introduced through direct teaching.

Each unit has a knowledge organiser which outlines ‘sticky knowledge’ (including vocabulary) which all pupils are expected to master.

Curriculum enrichment opportunities such as excursions in addition to visits from experts are used to enhance the learning experience, helping bring the learning to life and inspire pupils.

A whole school Science Week is held every few years, with the last one being in 2020. This experience fosters enjoyment of Science, develops cross-curricular links and encourages discussion and teamwork. It allows all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.

Impact

At Redfield Edge Primary School, our Science Curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression year on year.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through tracking of knowledge and regular teacher assessment.

The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge linked to the Science Curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives.