Curriculum Statement

At Elworth Hall Primary School, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at school and beyond. Our science curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop a sense of awe and wonder and also develop a healthy curiosity about our universe.

Throughout their time at school, children will develop scientific knowledge which will be consolidated and built upon as they progress through the year groups. Through practical scientific enquiry, our children’s scientific skills will be developed to enable them to answer their own questions with increasing independence. Our children are immersed in scientific vocabulary to equip them to question, predict, explain and evaluate their world around them.

Intent

• To provide an engaging curriculum that is broad, balanced and progressive.
• To provide our children with the knowledge and vocabulary needed to be confident scientists.
• To provide opportunities for focused, practical scientific enquiry and skills to be taught and practised.
• To develop a natural curiosity about the world that we live in.
• To offer our children new and exciting opportunities and experiences.
• To promote our school and British Values.
• To prepare our children for the next steps in their learning journey.

Implementation

The science curriculum uses Plymouth Science Scheme of Work. This provides clear guidance to all teaching staff on the progression and application of skills and knowledge expected for each topic, in each year group. Key vocabulary is identified for each science topic, and it is expected that these keywords will be explored through teaching.  

• The local community is used as a stimulus for scientific exploration. The environment surrounding the school is utilised by teachers to enable the children to investigate and observe.
• Teachers use assessment for learning throughout the teaching cycle to identify conceptual and procedural knowledge. This assessment information is used to inform teaching and quickly identify those children who require additional support.
• Through Science, children will draw upon their cross curricular skills such as reading and writing, computing skills, as well as many mathematics skills such as data collection, analysis and presentation of results using tables and graphs.
• Teachers take advantage of opportunities to enrich or further supplement the planned curriculum through visitors, science events and school visits.

Impact

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.

All children will have:

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
• A richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.

Pupil Voice

“It was fun learning about sound and animals and their habitats.” (Y4 pupil)

“Going outside to learn about insects and bugs was interesting. (Y4 pupil)

“I liked learning about the digestive system, even the gross parts.” (Y6 pupil)