Compassion, Courage, Justice
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
Science – Intent Statement
At Monkton Church of England Primary School, it is our intention to recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life. We give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. Science provides children with the opportunity to understand the world around them and provides an exciting context to apply many of the other skills and disciplines they learn at school. The science National Curriculum identifies three key areas in which the children should be taught: knowledge and understanding; working scientifically and the application of science. Our school has a carefully planned science curriculum that ensures children, from reception to year 6, cover these three aims in an accessible, creative, holistic and engaging way. Key skills and knowledge are also mapped for each year group and are progressive throughout the school. The school’s approach to science takes account of the school’s own context, ensuring access to people with specialist expertise and places of scientific interest as part of the school’s commitment to learning outside the classroom. Cross curricular opportunities are also identified, mapped and planned to ensure contextual relevance. 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.
Science – Implementation Statement
Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
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Science is taught in carefully arranged blocks by the class teacher ensuring that children gain knowledge and skills to take them into more advanced Greater Depth and mastery learning
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Where appropriate, Science is incorporated into the term’s (or half term’s) themed learning to create meaningful and purposeful lessons which provide the children with opportunities to build on their knowledge in a cross-curricular way.
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Science is split into 2 key components of learning. One lesson will be reserved for ‘theory’ based learning. As well as the theory lesson, an investigative lesson will be built into the weekly timetable for children to test hypothesis and solve problems.
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Here at Monkton, we ensure that skills are built upon as children progress through school. ‘Sticky’ knowledge is assessed at the beginning of a new unit of work and enhanced as the term progresses.
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Science vocabulary is used as often as possible and incorporated into spellings home learning.
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Children are modelled and taught how to work systematically and logically using our learning values where each learner will progress in Science by being: positive; resourceful; innovative, determined and engaged.
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Science equipment is used as often as possible during investigations to ensure that children gain the practical skills of working scientifically as well as the fluency.
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Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class.
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Regular events, such as Science Week or project days, such as Nature Day, allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. These events often involve families and the wider community.
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Formative and summative assessment is robust and planned into the yearly timetable. Teachers use Arbor to assess children formatively based on NC statutory guidance.
Science – Impact Statement
The successful approach at Monkton Church of England Primary results in a fun, engaging and high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations 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. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts our Science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. We want to empower our children so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.
Below, you can see our Science Skills Progression. As we are mixed age classes, we teach Science on a 2 yearly cycle. This ensures coverage of all ley skills and knowledge. In this academic year (2023-2024), we are on Cycle A, which means we are teaching the Year 1, 3 and 5 scheme of work.
Science Skills Progression - Cycle A (current year)
Science Skills Progression - Cycle B
Science National Curriculum
For further information about the Science Programme of Study followed as detailed in the National Curriculum please follow this link:
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