Science
Intent
Our carefully planned science curriculum supports all our learners from both our village and military communities. Through science, we aim to nurture the minds of knowledgeable, inquisitive learners, passionate to find out more about the world around them and confident to explore, ask questions and link ideas together. Our scientists see the challenges the world faces as opportunities and problems to be solved and will be excited by the chance to shape the future. Our special rural location will enable learners to participate in practical science activities using locations in and around the village to help them see the science they learn in practice where they live.
Implementation
In order to achieve our intent:
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Our comprehensive curriculum supports the development of a deep understanding of how the world works, following the National Curriculum to build knowledge and skills progressively throughout the school.
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Our youngest learners in EYFS find out about the world they experience through knowledge and understanding of the world, while in KS1 our scientists explore animals, plants and materials in weekly lessons. Throughout KS2, knowledge of these same themes broadens and deepens, while children are also introduced to scientific concepts including forces & magnets, rocks & space, light & sound, electricity & evolution.
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Learners explore up to six science units each year following the National Curriculum, combining the skills needed to work scientifically (including asking questions, making predictions, investigating, collecting & sharing results and drawing conclusions) with scientific knowledge and how it links to the real world beyond the school.
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Science lessons are taught in termly blocks of up to two weeks. Blocking scientific learning in this way gives all learners the opportunity to build quickly on prior learning. It also allows the investigative process to be made clear and allows theoretical and practical activities to sit closely alongside each other to support maximum retention and progress.
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New information and skills are linked effectively to prior learning within and across school years to ensure children are able to make connections between new learning and what they already know. Children develop a secure core of scientific knowledge which they can build on at primary school and prepares them for deeper studies in their future education.
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Science is taught through a balanced combination of theoretical & practical learning both in the classroom and using the amazing natural environment around us. Our rural location and green spaces offer the opportunity to use the garden and nature area on site and woodland and river settings in the wider village to study scientific principles in real-world contexts.
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Children are supported to develop their scientific approach to learning through 'Plan, do, review' experiments and enquiries. Each unit of learning includes in-built opportunities to teach and assess scientific enquiry skills through TAPS focused assessment plans which are carefully structured across and between year groups to support the development of skills.
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As well as biologists, chemists and physicists, through varied investigations our scientists are encouraged to become botanists, ecologists, geologists, meteorologists, paleontologists, taxonomists and many more and varied scientific practitioners.
Impact
Through high quality first teaching, children develop a sound understanding of scientific processes and principles and use this knowledge and these skills to understand, explain and enjoy the world around them. Children enjoy taking part in science lessons and look forward to finding out about their world, both at school and in their wider lives. Science broadens our young learner's minds and embeds ways of thinking crucial to understanding the 21st century world, while also developing the knowledge and skills essential to successful futures in education and beyond, including seeing roles in science for themselves as rewarding future careers.
