Science Curriculum Statement

Science Intent

At Padiham Primary School, our children are SCIENTISTS! Our intent, through our bespoke curriculum is to give every child a broad and balanced Science Curriculum. This will enablethem to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

We want our children to be enthusiastic about Science and learn to love the subject. It is our aim for them to have no limits to their ambitions  and to grow up wanting to be microbiologists, forensic scientists or astronauts. We want our children to look forward to and remember their Science lessons in our school and embrace the scientific and other STEM opportunities they are presented with.

To achieve this, children are involved in exciting, practical 'hands on' experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning. Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging lessons will help every child to secure and extend their scientific knowledge, as well as promoting  a love and thirst for learning.  At Padiham Primary School we have taken time to coherently plan and sequence our Science Curriculum. This has carefully been designed and developed with the need of every child at the centre of what we do. We want to equip our children, not with the minimum statutory requirements  of the Science National Curriculum, but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Science Implementation

At Padiham Primary School, Science topics are taught within each Year Group, in accordance with the National Curriculum. 

• Topics are blocked  to allow children to focus upon developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
• Every Year Group will build upon the learning from prior Year Groups, establishing any misconceptions before moving forward. They will develop both depth of understanding and progression of skills. As pupils progress through the school,  topic knowledge and understanding  is further embedded when areas are revisited in greater detail through our spiralling curriculum.
• Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest in the scientific disciplines of  Biology. Chemistry and Physics. 
• Children , as they progress through school,  explore, question. predict, plan. carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their own findings.
• Children present their own findings and learning using Science and topic specific language, observations and diagrams.
• In order to support children in their ability  to 'know more and remember more', there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous lessons or related topics.
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• At the start of each topic, children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities  are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence, knowledge and understanding are maintained.
• To support their teaching, teachers access a wide range of resources. They plan from our bespoke curriculum, which is based upon the Science Programme of Study, along with our own agreed  Science Principles.
• Effective use is made of available school Science enrichment opportunities. Science- based outdoor learning, Science- based school visitors and Science- based educational visits are planned, to enrich and enhance each pupil's learning experiences within the Science Curriculum.
• Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure that any many misconceptions are are highlighted and addressed.
• Effective modelling by teachers ensure that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with any misconceptions addressed at this point.
• Through a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teacher, to ensure that every child can access the Science Curriculum and that all children are making progress and being appropriately stretched during Science lessons.
• Children are given clear success criteria for each Science lessons, in order to achieve the learning intention with differing levels of independence.
• Key Stage One  usually discuss learning, towards the end of each lesson, with small groups or the class as a whole. Key Stage Two children are regularly also given the opportunity for self or peer-assessment. Both strategies are used to inform planning, preparation  and differentiation. At this time, teachers also address any new misconceptions which have arisen, ready for the following lesson.
• Cross-curricular links are planned for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities.  Links are also made with other subjects, such as English and computing.
• Teacher subject tracking allows us to use data to inform future practice.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children's understanding through the planning and teaching of 'Understanding the World'. Children find out about objects, materials and living things, using all of their senses, looking at similarities, differences, patterns  and change. Skilled practitioners foster curiosity in young minds and encourage  explorative play. Children are motivated to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. Our children are encouraged to use their natural environment around them to explore and learn. Children enjoy spending time outdoors exploring mini-beasts and their habitats, exploring the changing seasons, pants and animals. Children regularly take part in cookery  and baking sessions, which allows them to experience changes in state as ingredients are mixed, heated and cooled.

Science Impact

The impact of this curriculum  design will lead to outstanding progress over time, across Key Stages, relative to a child's individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave Padiham Primary School reaching at least age related expectations for Science. Through exciting lesson activities, various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, our Science Curriculum learners will become enthusiastic learners, who understand that Science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world's future (be it in protecting our planet, in medical advances or a whole host of other Scientific fields.) We aim to empower our children so they understand that they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including Pupil Voice, their written and practical work and their overwhelming enjoyment of Science.

Click here to see how we organise our Science topics, from Reception to Year Six, over a two year cycle.

Our Science themes and how they fit into our class topics over the two year cycle.

Useful Science Websites