Science

Science  

Vision: 

At Blackpool, a main goal is to ensure that all pupils leave with an understanding of the world through the study of science. We want to ensure that through their science learning, pupils become active learners who ask questions and take responsibility for their own learning. We aim to make all learning memorable through developing their understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of scientific enquiry. We intend to inspire all children to develop a curiosity of the world around them and tailor our teaching and learning to suit the needs of all children. We will be following a key-stage appropriate progressional programme of study, where biology, chemistry and physics will be taught discretely with cross-curricular links made where appropriate. Learning in science will provide the children with a wide range of exciting and challenging experiences and will be a key component in our Curriculum threads, with ‘Communication and Connections’ being particularly relevant, where it will support pupils’ critical thinking and provide children with real life learning opportunities. It will also be a very important element in our ‘Life Long Skills’ thread where pupils’ will be encouraged to work as part of a team; working collaboratively, showing a positive attitude and perseverance.  

Our curriculum includes links with a range of key scientists in order to illustrate the diversity and equity in this field. Links with possible careers are made with children to provide aspiration and a relevance to future careers and interests. 

To ensure the retention of key information in children’s long term memory, pupils are expected to take responsibility for leading their own learning, build on prior knowledge and ask questions to apply key skills independently. Key vocabulary for units of study are mapped out and revisited to ensure children understand, use and are confident to use scientific language. 

Aims in Science: 

Early Years: 

Pupils will explore: 

Understanding the world

People and communities: children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.  

The world: children know about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. They talk about the features of their own immediate environment and how environments might vary from one another. They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.  

Key Stage 1 

The principal focus of science teaching in key stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly constructed world around them.  

Children will learn to work scientifically through their study of the following topics across their time in Key Stage 1 and linked to the National Curriculum objectives: 

Plants; Animals, including humans; Everyday materials; Seasonal changes; and Living things and their habitats. 

Lower Key Stage 2 

The principal focus of science teaching in lower key stage 2 is to enable pupils to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They should do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions.  

Children will continue to learn to work scientifically through their study of the following topics during their time in Lower Key Stage 2 and linked to the National Curriculum objectives: 

Plants; Animals, including humans; Rocks; Light; Forces and magnets; Living things and their habitats; States of matter; Sound; Electricity. 

Upper Key Stage 2 

Children will continue to learn to work scientifically through their study of the following topics during their time in Upper Key Stage 2 and linked to the National Curriculum objectives: 

 Animals, including humans; Light; Forces; Living things and their habitats; Electricity; Properties of materials; Earth and Space; Evolution 

Assessment monitoring and review: 

Pupils will be assessed on their subject knowledge, skills and application, against our planned curriculum, which has overarching curricular goals for each year group that children are expected to achieve. 

There are a number of ways that teachers will form an assessment of the children’s abilities in Science. Please see the school Assessment and Feedback policies as well as the assessment methods below. 

Attainment judgements will be made against a range of evidence including – written/printed evidence, teacher/pupil discussions, conferencing and self or peer reflections. Concept maps are used to elicit initial information and build a bank of knowledge and learning as the topic progresses. Teachers ensure prior knowledge and previous learning goals are secure before moving on to new content. There are planned opportunities for retrieval of knowledge and skills.

End of unit assessment projects or tasks could be used to assess the acquisition of skills and knowledge against the curricular goals for the unit of work. There will be opportunities for children to demonstrate new learning and learning over time.  

At the end of each unit of work, teachers assess children against the curricular goals. Review of Medium Term Plans support teachers to know what areas have been secured and how the attainment of the children impacts on future planning. Subject leaders and senior leaders will have discussions with pupils and teachers, alongside our curriculum plans and evidence of work, to ensure that all essential elements of our curriculum have been delivered.  

This is what our children say about Science in our school...

'The best part of Science is setting up and doing experiments. I like making observations and thinking about why something has happened.' Year 4

'I want to be a vet when I grow up, so it is important to learn lots about animals. I learn something in every class that will help me to be a vet, like grouping animals and how they move and grow.' Year 5

'My favourite part of Science lessons is when we go out and about to learn about the environment and the seasons.' Year 2

'I have learnt about famous inventors and scientists. This has inspired me to have a job that uses science in it because it sounds really interesting.' Year 6

' I like going on welly walks to see how the seasons change and look at the plants and how they grow.' Year 1