At Richard Coates CE Primary School, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life and aim for our children to develop a love of learning Science from a young age and how this can provide them with skills which will inform their understanding of the living world around them. We give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence and priority it requires as one of the core subjects taught in Primary Schools.

We aspire to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world through Science and develop their understanding of Science as a process of enquiry and further investigation. Throughout our school’s Science Curriculum, children are encouraged to develop and use a range of working Science based skills including questioning, researching and observing for themselves, as well as encouraging them to develop hypotheses and predictable outcomes of their own. Whilst developing a child’s natural curiosity of the world, we also encourage them to have respect for living organisms and the physical environment including important issues surrounding climate change and other potential impacts upon their future lives.  We also encourage them to develop their ability to evaluate evidence and interpret outcomes of experiments.

At Richard Coates CE Primary School, and in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching offers opportunities for children to:

• Develop their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through various topics to help them answer questions about the world around them.

• Develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to expand their scientific knowledge.

• Use a range of methods to present scientific information including:  I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts as well as developing personal skills such as verbalising their understanding of concepts and outcomes of experiments.

• Be able to work safely with a range of scientific materials and equipment.

• Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

At Richard Coates CE Primary School the National Curriculum provides a structure for the Science curriculum being taught throughout the school. Children have weekly lessons in Science throughout Key Stage 1 and 2 from a variety of resources and programmes of study such as The Rising Stars Scheme of work and other stimulating teaching resources that can support and enrich the Science learning experience of our pupils.   In Early years, Science is taught through play and other interactive experiences intended to engage the interest of pupils.  We also offer educational visits linked to the Science curriculum, such as visits to The Life Science Centre and also scientists who visit our school, for example the Newcastle University Street Scientists.

We endeavour to ensure that our Science curriculum provides children with the confidence, aspiration and motivation to continue to further develop their skills into the next extended learning stage of their education.  Wherever possible and relevant to other areas of the curriculum, pupils and staff are encouraged to make cross-curricular references to scientific themes and topics covered in the core Science scheme of work.

Implementation

Teachers are encouraged to create a positive attitude to Science teaching and learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in the subject. Across the school, we aim for Science to be taught in arranged topic blocks as this allows for an increased focus upon achieving a greater depth of understanding and knowledge in specific areas of the subject.

Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. Science planning involves teachers creating engaging and interesting lessons using accessible and high-quality resources to aid pupil’s understanding of concepts and knowledge relevant to individual topics.  Teachers use precise and targeted pupil questioning in class to test their understanding of skills and knowledge, as well as assess children regularly to identify those with gaps in learning, so that all children have the potential to make positive progress.

A fundamental aim of our Science teaching is that as we build upon the learning and skill development of previous years; children’s knowledge and understanding increases and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results.  Subsequently, they become increasingly confident in the conclusions they reach based upon enquiry and research.

Practical Science skills are a key element planned into lessons to ensure they are being developed consistently throughout the children’s Primary school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching.  This is a key learning element which is developed throughout the Science topics covered in and during subsequent years.

Teachers of Science are encouraged to demonstrate how to use scientific equipment where appropriate in order to reinforce and consolidate an understanding of skills and knowledge as well as to offer support and assistance where appropriate.  Teachers explore opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by using outdoor learning experiences and other Science based workshops run by experts from out of school organisations.

Impact

The fundamental aim of our approach to Science teaching at Richard Coates CE Primary is to provide a fun, engaging, high-quality Science education that engages children with the foundations for their future understanding of the immediate and wider world in which they will live. Our first-hand experiences with the local environment ensure that children learn through varied and, essentially practical involvement of the world around them. Whenever possible, we provide children with opportunities for outdoor learning and through a variety of educational workshops and trips, with the intention that children should learn that Science has changed our lives and will continue to shape our futures. We aim for them to learn the possibilities for careers in Science as a result of our community links. Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through stimulating questioning of pupil’s views and attitudes to Science. The purpose of this is to enhance the children’s enjoyment of Science and to motivate and encourage pupils to embrace higher order skills and knowledge in the subject.