Science
Science curriculum statement
Our school vision
The Lord says, ‘I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on
you.’ Psalm 32:8
We live our vision with three dynamics at the heart: Living, Learning & Flourishing together.
We live as role models and advocate good choices
We learn in all we do with a loving eye upon us
We flourish in the way we go, within school and into the world beyond
Our five Core Values are: Kindness – Koinonia – Compassion – Responsibility – Forgiveness
Through a positive, caring environment, we provide the opportunity for every child to reach their full
potential. We embrace Christian values and ensure all children are ready for their next steps. This
statement sets out how we do this in Science.
INTENT
At Great Massingham and Harpley Primary Schools Federation, we believe that our children should
be encouraged to be naturally curious about the world around them. We want to embrace their sense
of wonder about natural phenomena and to guide them into becoming enquiry-based learners. The
science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enables them to
make sense of the world in which they live. We want our children to develop an understanding of the
uses and implications of Science, how it has changed and shaped our lives and how vital it is to the
world’s future prosperity.
We are dedicated to ensure that children LIVE Scientific enquiry through the subjects that they study.
These topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics, such as Plants, are
taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two. Thus,
allowing the children to grow in their understanding, building upon their prior knowledge and
increasing their enthusiasm for the topics whilst embedding this knowledge into the long-term
memory.
Science teaching at Great Massingham and Harpley Primary Schools Federation involves adapting
and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs to ensure they are challenged and achieve
success. Science is taught as discrete units and lessons to ensure coverage in line with the National
Curriculum requirements, with links to other subjects when possible. Teachers plan to suit their
children’s interests, current events, their own teaching style, the use of any support staff and the
resources available.
We seek to engage and encourage all of our children to develop a passion for science, through a rich
curriculum ensuring children LEARN to:
Develop and extend their scientific concept of the world.
Acquire and grow an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of scientific ideas.
Build on their natural curiosity to ask in-depth and open questions.
See the links between science and other subjects.
Develop skills of investigation – including: observing, measuring, predicting, hypothesising,
experimenting, communicating, perseverance, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.
Develop the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
We want all children to see the magic of science around them and how it impacts and supports our
everyday lives, and is therefore of paramount importance in supporting our children to FLOURISH in
the next stages of their learning.
IMPLEMENT
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. Additionally, Science teaching at Great Massingham
and Harpley Primary Schools Federation involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all
pupils’ needs. The teacher’s plan uses a combination of resources from both Twinkl and
Grammarsaurus to achieve this.
Science units are taught on a two-year rolling programme. This ensures progression between year
groups and guarantees topics are covered. Teachers plan to suit their children’s interests, current
events, their teaching style, the use of any support staff and the resources available.
In addition to our weekly science lessons, we seize opportunities to further enhance the curriculum
and grow enthusiasm for science. We do this by partaking in science week, cross-curricula days and
intertwining science with our other subjects, for example, DT, Geography, History and Computing. We
also use the outside areas as much as possible to bring science to life.
Throughout the topics, we develop our scientific knowledge and working scientifically skills through
planning and partaking in different experiments to support our topics.
IMPACT
Through formative and summative assessment, we continuously monitor pupils’ progress against
expected standards for their age, we can identify any gaps in their learning. Teachers use the
assessments to inform their planning to ensure that all pupils have a secure understanding and are
exposed to an appropriate level of challenge.
We will know our Science Curriculum is having the desired impact on our children when:
they can talk enthusiastically about their science lessons and can articulate the context in
which science is being taught;
pupils can explain the key vocabulary and use it appropriately and confidently in lessons;
pupils can show a wide range of scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific
enquiry/investigative skills.
Children can ask questions about their science learning and reflect on their knowledge.
● There is a clear progression of children’s work and teachers’ expectations.
● Children are becoming increasingly independent in science, and completing pupil lead investigations.
• Children are prepared to take risks with their learning.
High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.
An understanding of their local area, science-related industry and careers.