Science Intent

At St Mary of Charity Primary school our aim is to provide a Science curriculum which enables children to be curious, to question, to be confident to explore and to be inspired to discover their immediate environment and develop a deeper understanding of the world we live in. 

Through engaging, practical and stimulating experiences, we promote a love of learning. We encourage children to be aspirational, challenge stereotypical views and enable children to extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary.  

At St Mary of Charity Primary School,  we have a curriculum which enables every child to develop scientific knowledge. Key skills and vocabulary are built on each year and through using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining ideas and concepts children make a natural progression.  We aim to prepare our children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.  

Science Implementation

To achieve our intent, we place great emphasis on the implementation of a robust and dynamic Science curriculum. Our implementation strategy focuses on the following key areas:

Sequencing and Progression:

Our Science curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that key concepts and knowledge are built upon and extended as pupils progress through the school. The curriculum is designed around the framework set out in the National Curriculum for Science, and we make frequent reference to the progression of ideas within and across year groups. The curriculum is planned and sequenced to ensure a coherent and progressive learning journey, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding of scientific concepts and develop sophisticated scientific skills over time. Our school uses knowledge organisers which are shared with pupils and parents at the beginning of each term. 

Engaging and Practical Experiences:

We recognise the importance of providing pupils with practical and hands-on experiences to develop their scientific skills and understanding. Our science lessons are designed to be engaging, allowing pupils to undertake experiments, investigations, and practical activities that promote active learning. We provide a range of resources and equipment to support practical work, including access to scientific tools and technologies suitable for primary level. By incorporating real-life contexts and problem-solving opportunities, we aim to make science relevant and meaningful to our pupils.

Enquiry-Based Learning:

Enquiry-based learning is central to our Science curriculum. We encourage our pupils to develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them, fostering their ability to ask questions and seek answers through scientific investigation. We promote open-ended investigations and exploratory activities that allow pupils to develop their critical thinking skills, including making systematic observations, collecting and analysing data, and drawing evidence-based conclusions. We support pupils in designing and conducting their own experiments whenever possible, cultivating their scientific independence and problem-solving abilities.

Cross-Curricular Links:

We recognise the interconnectedness of subjects within the curriculum and actively seek opportunities to make cross-curricular links to other subjects. We encourage pupils to apply their scientific knowledge and skills in a range of contexts, including Mathematics, English, and Design and Technology. By making these connections, we aim to reinforce learning, deepen understanding, and demonstrate the relevance of science in our everyday lives.

STEM Enrichment:

To enrich our Science curriculum further, we provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) enrichment activities and experiences. Our MAT, Aquila, is part of a ‘super enthuse’ STEM network.  We organize visits to museums, science fairs, and local industries to inspire and expose our pupils to real-life STEM applications. We also work with experts and scientists from diverse fields to engage with our pupils and staff through workshops, talks, and hands-on demonstrations. These enrichments foster a culture of scientific curiosity, broaden horizons, and open doors to potential STEM career pathways.

Science Impact

Science at St Mary of Charity of Primary School is an engaging, explorative and hands-on subject that provides the children with strong foundations for understanding the world. Retrieval questions at the beginning of each lesson allow the children to recall prior knowledge from a previous lesson, year group or key stage which allows learning to be progressive. Teachers use formative assessment to address misconceptions and summative assessment in Terms 2,4 & 6 to ensure the children are on-track to achieve age related outcomes.

At St Mary of Charity Primary School, our engaging Science curriculum will ensure:

• Children will have a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
• Children will have a richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts.
• Most children will achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of each academic year.
• Children can demonstrate cross-curricular links with subjects (including Mathematics) to record and interpret data/results.
• Children will retain scientific knowledge making links to a real-life context.
• Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on their own knowledge.
• Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.