Science
Vision
Inspiring children to become inquisitive learners, enabling them to understand and appreciate the scientific world in which they live
At St Martin’s C of E Primary, we fundamentally believe that all children can be scientists and that each individual has the potential to broaden their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding. As the result of a diverse, expert-led, knowledge-based curriculum, children will draw on what they know during purposeful scientific enquiry to deepen their understanding of the world around them.
In order for children to develop a love of science, experiences and opportunities are carefully planned so that they are relevant and practical, enabling children to apply what they know. Children will be skilled in both questioning and problem solving, able to draw their own conclusions and justify their answers using their scientific knowledge and understanding.
Rationale
We use the Developing Experts scheme for science at St Martin’s CE Primary. Lessons are well-resourced with excellent visuals and regular opportunities for retrieval, which helps the children to remember more. Each unit has an assessment, which is acted upon to address any gaps in learning or misconceptions and informs teacher assessment. Importantly, each lesson includes an explanation from an expert currently using that specific skill in their field, which provides the children with access to aspirational speakers and makes the learning highly purposeful and ‘real’. These experts do not ‘talk down’ to the children, but pitch their explanations at a scientific level, modelling how scientists speak and using scientific vocabulary in context. There is a broad, diverse range of expert speakers from different backgrounds, genders and professions.
As well as the lesson content, each lesson has CPD opportunities to support teacher subject knowledge. Progression of skills and knowledge is clearly planned at a whole-school level so that prior learning can be built upon and developed. This clarity and consistency will enable our children to be able to leave school with a highly advanced level of scientific understanding.
Links:
Please see below for the coverage and progression overviews for science.
For a breakdown of what each year group is covering in each topic, including quiz questions, please click on the relevant document below: