Science

Intent

At Hook Norton Primary School, our main aim is to foster a sense of excitement and curiosity about science whilst increasing children’s awareness and understanding of the world.

Science is central to many aspects of life and children should be encouraged to look at the world as scientists. It is a core subject within the National Curriculum. It aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
• Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills based focus, built on a foundation of supporting knowledge through our big questions.

We encourage our children to be inquisitive throughout their time at school and beyond; to be curious about our universe and to promote respect for the living and non-living. We ensure that children can work scientifically and these skills are built upon and developed through the year groups. This enables them to apply their knowledge when using equipment, conducting experiments, explaining concepts and continue to question the world around them.

Implementation

Children learn most effectively through ‘doing’ and we teach it cross-curricular through our big question topics. This ensures embedded learning with a hands-on, creative approach. Children learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. Through working scientifically, children are encouraged to: make observations over time; seek patterns; identify, classify and group; make predictions, carry out comparative and fair tests (controlled investigations); and research using secondary sources.

Science is taught in planned and arranged topic blocks using our ‘big question’ approach. Planning includes problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves through experimentation and research. Lessons are engaging and teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills and assess children regularly to identify gaps in learning. New vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities and school trips. We work very closely with our partnership schools and children attend regular, science events at the local secondary school.

Impact

Children are provided with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. They learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Children learn the possibilities for service and careers in science and they have access to positive role models from a range of science disciplines and STEM related industries.

Children enjoy science and become motivated learners with sound scientific understanding that they can take with them into secondary school.