Science

Intent

At Wistaston Academy, we recognise the importance of Science in many aspects of daily life. We aim to build on our children’s natural curiosity and fascination for the natural and man-made world and promote a respect for living organisms and the physical environment. We strive to provide a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. As one of the core subjects of the National Curriculum, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires.

They will develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiry that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them. Our aims are to fulfil the National Curriculum for science by providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum, ensuring the subject content is taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly – so that all pupils acquire the intended knowledge, vocabulary and skills. The science curriculum has been designed to be ambitious and meet the needs of all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. Science lessons are designed to develop the long-term memory of our children and to improve the children’s capital culture and understanding of the world.

Science lessons are designed to ensure that children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the curriculum but are also equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them. We endeavour to ensure that the science curriculum we provide will give children the confidence and motivation to continue to develop their skills into the next stage of education and consistently achieve highly.

We have designed the Science curriculum at WA with the intent that our pupils will:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
• Develop their use of scientific language to be able to discuss their learning and explain their scientific understanding.
• Be inquisitive and curious about their surroundings and critically question the world around them.
• Develop scientific skills of investigation including: observation, prediction, investigation, interpretation, communication, questioning, hypothesizing, experimenting, explaining and evaluating to deepen their scientific knowledge.
• Offer their own suggestions, and to be creative in their approach to science.
• Develop their skills of co-operation through working with others.
• Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a scientific manner including computing, diagrams, graphs and charts.
• Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
• Develop enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.
• Be prepared for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world today and in the future.

Implementation

The Science curriculum at WA is based upon the Primary National Curriculum 2014 which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught at each Key Stage. The curriculum is led and overseen by the Science lead, who works alongside class teachers, to plan, monitor and continually evaluate the science taught at WA in order to ensure it is effective, exciting and continually improving. Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and provide children with rich learning experiences.

The curriculum at WA is implemented through:

• Units which comprise of well planned, exciting, engaging and coherent sequences of lessons tailored specifically for our children.
• Lessons which draw upon and reinforce skills learnt in other subjects.
• Lessons which build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years.
• Regular feedback from teachers which not only addresses misconceptions but also deepens, challenges and supports learning.
• The use of concept cartoons to assess prior knowledge and understanding. Precise questioning is used to assess learning and retainment.
• Clear and progressive documents to support scientific enquiry. 
• The use of high-quality resources to aid conceptual knowledge and scientific enquiry.
• Units of work which ensure relevant key scientific enquiry skills are taught.
• A strong focus on scientific vocabulary which is taught within the units, displayed in the classroom and consolidated wherever relevant.
• A variety of enrichment opportunities to further develop children’s understanding.
• Yearly events, such as Science Week, provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.

The curriculum is implemented differently across the Key Stages to reflect the needs of the children:

• In EYFS- pupils learn about Scientific ideas through ‘The World’ strand of Development Matters. This is through whole class inputs and the indoor and outdoor provision. Learning is completed through capturing the children’s interests, relating it to personal experiences and allowing exploration.

• In KS1, Science is incorporated into half-termly topic-based learning with some objectives being revisited across the year. This is designed to stimulate children’s interests and help them internalise their learning.
• Science in KS2 is taught as discrete lessons following a scheme of work. This ensures progression between year groups and guarantees a range of disciplines are being covered.

Impact

• High quality science lessons will provide children with the foundations for understanding the World.
• Children will be enthusiastic about and enjoy Science lessons.
• Children will become increasingly critical and analytical within their thinking and be able to ask questions.
• Children will have a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.

Children will have a richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.

• Children will develop enquiry skills to pursue their own interests and further questions within a topic.
• Over their time at Wistaston Academy, children will have encountered and participated in a wide range of visits, visitors and other experiences.
• Children will make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning which will embed scientific knowledge in their long-term memory.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes in science.
• Children will leave WA with the skills, knowledge and attitude that will allow them embrace the next stage in their education.
• Children have high aspirations and learn the possibilities for careers in science as a result of links with the community.
• Within science, reading is promoted widely & often leading to fluency, comprehension and enjoyment.

Impact is measured through:

• Assessing children’s understanding of a topic before and after the unit is taught.
• Marking of written work.
• Assessing children’s learning through questioning and discussion.
• Pupil and staff questionnaires.
• Book scrutinies.
• Lesson observations and learning walks.
• Dialogues at staff meetings
• Formal reporting at the end of each key stage.

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