Science

Statement of Intent

At Pratts Bottom Primary School, we understand the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the importance it requires.

Our Science lessons will increase our pupils’ knowledge, understanding and respect for the world around them, whilst also encouraging a natural curiosity and questioning mind set.  

At Pratts Bottom Primary School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching offers opportunities for children to:

• develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery
• 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
• be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future
• develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge
• use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts
• develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.

Implementation

Using the CUSP Scheme to plan alongside the National Curriculum, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;

• Science will be taught weekly in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher. This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge.  Deeper thinking questions and quizzes are used to provide extra challenge.

• Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom.

• Lessons are a ‘hands on’ experience to build enthusiasm for learning by creating practical experiments and investigations which allow children to build their observational and recording skills as well as being able to draw conclusions.

• We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.

• Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning.

• Technical vocabulary is taught which the children are encouraged to be familiar with and use confidently in an accurate and precise way. Children can then transfer their extended specialist vocabulary across all subjects.

• Children will apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of Science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data.

• Children are taught about the importance of a range of key, diverse Scientists and the impact they have had and are having on the world we live in. For example, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, George Washington, Katherine Johnson and Steven Hawking.

• The teaching of science will be enriched with field trips, visits to places of scientific interest, such as the Science Museum, specialist visitors to the school and involvement in science events and competitions. The school also has its very own Forest School where children will be able to experience a range of activities that will broaden their scientific knowledge and understanding first hand.

Impact

 The successful approach to the teaching of Science at Pratts Bottom will result in a fun, engaging, high quality science education that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world.  We believe every child should have a secure bank of scientific knowledge and experiences to enable them to confidently embrace the challenges of the secondary school science curriculum when they move on to Year 7.

Assessment at Pratts Bottom is teacher based using formal strategies (e.g. assessment tasks and quizzing) and informal strategies (e.g. verbal/written outcomes, reflection task/presentations).  Formal assessment is used as the main tool for assessing the impact of Science at Pratts Bottom as it allows for misconceptions and gaps to be addressed sooner rather than building on insecure scientific foundations.