St. Finian's Catholic Primary School

To support our delivery of the Science curriculum, we follow the Developing Experts curriculum: a science curriculum to shape futures. 

Our science curriculum at St. Finian's aims to challenge, inspire and encourage a natural curiosity in children so that they gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. The development of scientific knowledge and skills enables children to understand how all things are connected and to contemplate big questions and ideas. Our scheme - Developing Experts - has been designed to ensure children understand the application of what they are learning in the classroom in the world of work and to consider their own future role in the world of science. 

Our Science curriculum meets the aims of the National Curriculum by

• developing scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• developing an 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
• equipping children with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future

Our science curriculum studies the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics through a range of substantive concepts: Plants, Rocks, Animals including humans, Materials and their Properties, States of Matter, Forces, Electricity, Light, Earth and, Space, Sound, Evolution and Inheritance, Animals and their habitats. 

Our curriculum is implemented in the following ways.

• Through a carefully and logically sequenced curriculum which enables children to build on their knowledge and skills throughout primary school.
• 'Working scientifically’ is embedded within the content of biology, chemistry and physics, focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry through a hands on approach.
• Chiildren have oportunities to answer relevant scientific questions through skills including observing over time; pattern seeking; identifying, classifying and grouping; comparative and fair testing (controlled investigations); and researching using secondary sources.
• Pupils are taught to seek answers to questions through collecting, analysing and presenting data. 
• Children are given opportunities to build up an extended specialist vocabulary and to apply this in their oral and written responses.
• Children apply their mathematical knowledge to their understanding of science, including collecting, presenting and analysing data. 
• Scientific links are made to other areas of the curriculum to strengthen children's understanding of concepts in the wider world. 
• Through ‘Science Week’ in the Spring term, we promote the profile of Science, engaging in collaborative learning between cohorts.
• As well as following the curriculum, children are encouraged to explore science in the real world. We have made links with businesses such as Bayer, AWE and Action for the River Kennet to bring science alive and encourage children to make links with their scientific understanding and the real world.

Useful Documents

Progression in Knowledge
Progression in Skills

• Pupils will gain scientific knowledge and practical skills applicable in todays society and for future economies.
• Pupils learning will become embedded, supporting their understanding of scientific concepts and progression as they journey through primary school and beyond.
• Pupils will learn important learning habits through the appliction of science - resilience, reflectiveness and perseverance. 
• Pupils will aquire important practical skills applicable across disciplines: presentation, recording, questioning, reasoning, listening and evaluating.

Assessment

• Children have the opportunity to check their learning on a weekly basis through the use of interactive quizzes.
• Children are assessed at the end of each unit according to age related expectations of working scientifically in line with curriculum requirements. This is delivered in line with the school assessment calendar and monitored by the subject leader.