Science – Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent:

Science teaching at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School 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 St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, 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 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, this is reinforced through the scientific vocabulary relating to each topic being displayed in each classroom. Concepts taught are further reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that children learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.

Implementation:

Our science curriculum is based on a 'big question' which links to the National Curriculum. Each class has a set of big questions which they work on throughout the year.

Pupils are taught to understand and use correct scientific vocabulary based on the objectives and skills being taught.

Practical ‘hands on’ learning is at the core of our science teaching and learning and lessons allow for a wide range of scientific enquiry.

As knowledge and understanding increases and children become more proficient in selecting and using scientific equipment and collating and interpreting results, they will become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.  Science fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living.  Children develop a respect for our world allowing them to develop original ideas and a questioning attitude.  Curriculum coverage ensures progression between year groups and guarantees topics are covered and revisited.

Impact:

Through our science teaching and learning, pupils should be able to recall knowledge, use scientific vocabulary and develop scientific skills.

Assessment for learning is continuous throughout the year and a variety of assessment methods are used.  These include:

• Science Bug end of unit assessments
• I-track assessment data
• Observing children at work (individually, in pairs, in a group and in class) through learning walks.
• Pupil voice interviews
• Monitoring of pupils work through book scrutinies