At WDPS, we believe that when children are given the opportunity to foster a love of challenge, adventure and creativity in and beyond the classroom - developing skills that will equip them for all walks of life - they will become life-long learners with resilience, passion and a thirst for knowledge.

Intent

At West Denton Primary School, Science is about developing an understanding of and making sense of our environment, primarily through first-hand experience, exploration, interaction with scientific phenomena and developing scientific language.  At WDPS we have created an enquiry and investigative based Science curriculum that will develop a thirst for learning and knowledge in our children. They are immersed in scientific vocabulary, which aids children’s knowledge and understanding not only of the topic they are studying, but of the world around them.

Academic Commitment

Throughout the Science curriculum, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge, skills and vocabulary that has been identified within each unit and across each year group. The key knowledge identified by each year group is informed by the national curriculum and builds towards identified phase ‘end points’ in accordance with National Curriculum  expectations. Through the organisation of the units, there is also cohesion between Phases, allowing the children to develop and build on their previous knowledge and apply it further. The curriculum is planned on a two year rolling program to accommodate our mixed age classes. Key skills are also mapped for each year group and are progressive throughout the school.

Enquiry-based Learning Curriculum

Children are encouraged to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings and a love of Science is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied Science curriculum. We encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The Science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living.

We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. At WDPS each unit is an enquiry. This enquiry-based approach gives our children ownership of their learning and encourages them to be investigators, gaining knowledge for themselves and developing their thinking skills.

WDPS Core Values

Well-balanced  

I eat healthy food and I exercise.

Enquirers

I ask questions. 

I like to learn and discover new things about the world. 

I am curious.

Communicators

I talk about my ideas.

Life Long Learners

At WDPS we have created an enquiry based Science curriculum that will ensure children are able to acquire key scientific knowledge through practical experiences; using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently.  Cross curricular opportunities are also identified, mapped and planned to ensure contextual relevance.

Implementation

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in Science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.

Planning for Science is a process in which all teachers are involved to ensure that the school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science 2014’ and, ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Science teaching at WDPS involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs. Where possible, Science is linked to class topics. Science is taught as discrete units and lessons where needed to ensure coverage. Due to the one and half form year groups in our school, Science units are taught on a two year rolling programme. This ensures progression between year groups and guarantees topics are covered.  Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. We provide varied and differentiated ways for pupils to record the outcomes of their work including the use of PowerPoint, concept mapping, annotated diagrams, improvised drama and the application of a wide range of writing genres.  Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.

Each unit is taught in a block and cross-curricular links made where appropriate.

Working Scientifically skills are embedded into all lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous year, using our skills progression grids.

Impact

The successful approach at WDPS results in a fun, engaging, high-quality Science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the Science curriculum. At the end of each unit of work, we make a summative judgement about the achievement of each pupil and input these into the WDPS Foundation Subjects Tracker.  At this point teachers decide upon a ‘best fit’ judgement as to whether the pupil has achieved and embedded the expected learning goals, exceeded expectations or is still working towards the goals.  These decisions are based on the professional knowledge and judgement that teachers possess about the progress of each pupil, developed over the previous three terms, which allows an informed and holistic judgement of attainment to be made.   Achievement against the learning goals for science at the end of the year is used as the basis of reporting progress to parents and carers.