Science

Subject Leader - Mrs Fran Harding

Link Governor - Mrs Cassie Reis

 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?”

Job 38:16

Curriculum Intent

At St John’s Catholic Primary School, we aim for our science curriculum to:

• foster a love of science.
• encourage children to ask ‘Big Questions’ that we may or may not be able to find the answers to.
• develop a deep curiosity about the world and beyond.
• support our Mission Statement and Values.
• support our Gems Powers and Thrive programmes.

The national curriculum for science 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

EYFS

• KUW area of the EYFS is broadly in line with science expectations and is supportive of early science development.

Our curriculum plans intend to ensure that these aims and values are met through our long term, medium term and short term plans.

Curriculum Implementation

Each class, from Years 1 to 6, has dedicated lessons timetabled for Science. Science lessons incorporate whole-class teaching, group activities and individual learning. These sessions are planned carefully by teachers, using our curriculum mapping documents and our skills progression documents. This ensures that all children are involved and that lessons are varied and challenging. Lessons build on the children's prior learning and create solid foundations for what will come next in their scientific learning journey. 

In Early Years, science activities are part of the continuous provision available to all children through the KNW area of the programme.

Throughout the school we supply children with a range of age and topic appropriate equipment so that they can investigate, draw conclusions and extend their scientific knowledge and skills. All children across the school also benefit from the chance to apply their scientific skills in many other subjects including, maths, computing, DT and art.

 Science is taught through a two-year rolling programme of curriculum themes.  Areas of the National Curriculum are linked together so that the learning is presented to children thematically enabling children to create memorable links. This is a two-year programme because children are taught in mixed year group classes. Some science themes are taught as standalone and do not link to the terms overarching theme to ensure all areas of learning are presented over the two years.

 Long Term Curriculum Coverage 

Cycle A Years 3 and 4

Cycle A Years 5 and 6 

Knowledge Planners