Intent
At Walker, it is our intention to recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life, so we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. Our Science teaching aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
At Walker, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics, such as Plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory.
All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of different scientific and enquiry skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
Implementation
- A clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should show progression across all key stages within the strands of Science.
- Children have access to key language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply to their written, mathematical and verbal communication of their skills.
- Children will use a range of resources to develop their knowledge and understanding that is integral to their learning and develop their understanding of working scientifically.
- Clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should plan for practical investigative opportunities within Science lessons.
- Children will reflect on previous learning and cross curricular links will be made wherever possible
- Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners.
- Where applicable, links to Science will be made to develop the children’s topical learning.
- Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class.
- Events such as Science Week allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.
Impact
- Most children will achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.
- Children will retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
- Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
- Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.
- Children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically.
- The successful approach at Walker results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world.
- Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.
- Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies including the STEM association. They learn from and work with professionals, ensuring access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving.
- Children at Walker overwhelmingly enjoy science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding.