Science Subject Information

Science is a key focus in our school and the staff and children all have an enthusiasm and eagerness to continue their learning in the subject. Science is led by Mrs Harmer; all research and up to date practices are shared with Governors, the Leadership Team and staff on a regular basis. The core focus of Science is making the subject real to the children so that they understand the importance of the subject in the modern world. We are also focusing upon ensuring children understand and retain the key knowledge, concepts and skills, and making links to other subjects such as DT and Maths. The curriculum covers all knowledge, concepts and skills necessary for the children to understand the different areas of Science and it is taught starting in the EYFS and on a cyclical basis throughout Years 1 to 6 so that the children can build on their previous knowledge and move their understanding into their long term memory.

In the EYFS, many areas of Science are taught through Understanding the World, Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Physical Development. The children are able to plan and carry out investigations from a young age and then consider what effects these results have in the real world.

These skills develop throughout their time in school, ensuring that the children can plan, predict, carry out, record results and evaluate a number of investigations and experiments. The children also get the opportunity to meet different people from the scientific field and go on trips where they can investigate ideas and see Science at work. This hands-on experience fuels the children’s passion for Science and encourages them to be the scientists of the future. The evidence of all of these wonderful experiences can be seen in the children’s books, on the working walls in each classroom and in the Investigative Floor Books which are kept in every class; but the main source of evidence comes from the pupils themselves. They speak with enthusiasm for the subject and with an eagerness to take their learning further, whether that be though home learning tasks or through activities which they choose to pursue themselves.

Subject Overview

At Birchington CE Primary School we focus on Science being a key area in the curriculum and ensuring that all of the children have a variety of experiences to make Science real to them, no matter their starting point. We focus upon making the subject as interactive as possible so that the enthusiasm for the subject continues to build throughout their time in school. We understand the importance that Science, whatever the area, has in the modern world. The children work hard to develop their understanding of the investigative skills they need to develop, to become future scientists.

Rationale

The children at Birchington CE Primary school explore the world created for us by God, through the Science Curriculum. They will learn about how the physical and natural world works, what its components are, and how the world got to be the way it is now. At Birchington CE Primary School we provide the children with a science curriculum that is exciting, engaging and challenging and encourages the children to learn by asking questions arising from their natural curiosity and knowledge of the world around them. They seek to find answers through experimentation, investigation and enquiry and in doing so we are helping to develop the scientists of the future

Making It Real

At Birchington CE Primary School we believe that it is important that the children learn about Science in the real world and how it effects our lives. Throughout their time in school the children are able to plan, take part in and evaluate scientific investigations and experiments. They are taught how to use equipment safely and how to record their results accurately using a variety of age appropriate methods and skills. The children also benefit from a variety of visitors from the scientific field and go on various trips each year. These experiences help the children to apply their knowledge and understanding to the real world and build their scientific skills.