Science
Intent
At Walmley Junior School, we consider science to be an embedded core subject with a high status in our curriculum. It provides rich opportunities for enquiry: we encourage our children to ask questions, consider why things happen, make predictions, and analyse cause and effect.
We want our children to be able to explain familiar phenomena and apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas to appreciate how things work, including understanding themselves as humans and the factors that influence their personal health. Children are encouraged to discuss sciencebased issues that may affect their own lives, the direction of society, and the future of the world, such as climate change, sustainability and biodiversity. Through this, they develop an understanding that science facilitates the solution of real-life problems.
Science is also seen as a key mechanism through which pupils develop an understanding of the role science plays in potential future careers.
Implementation
The National Curriculum is at the core of our planning. We investigated commercial schemes but felt that they would not enable us to deliver curriculum objectives in ways which would best meet the needs of our children. Instead, we are proud to have developed a bespoke Science curriculum which enables children to learn about themselves and the wider world. Science is taught using an explanatory approach to satisfy children’s natural curiosity. In addition to encouraging reflections on prior learning, we often initiate topics by asking pupils to think of their own questions which they would like to have answered. Science knowledge is embedded across year groups through a robust progression map, which builds upon prior learning. Our Science curriculum has been designed as an ascending spiral of knowledge and skills; children revisit concepts as they move through the year groups, enabling pupils to make links, transfer skills and embed information in their long term memory. Our sequenced, systematic planning provides clarity for each year group to ensure the best use of time and comprehensive coverage to support teachers’ subject knowledge and ensure intelligent repetition. It is also flexible to react to current scientific events, and strong cross curricular links provide further opportunities to build upon prior subject knowledge. We have a clear understanding of prior knowledge and assessment of Science at KS1 which our curriculum builds on.
Children’s progress is monitored and reviewed through an established school-created assessment format for Science, based upon Age Related Expectations (ARE) with the capacity for differentiation in all activities and experiences. The subject leader has a clear understanding of their role and responsibility in curriculum design and delivery, as evidenced in subject leader’s log and impact sheets. Successful completion of the PSQM programme ensured the subject leader has the expertise and practical skill to design and implement the curriculum. Staff have access to professional development and training through timetabled CPD sessions and individual coaching and support with planning provided when needed. The subject leader regularly reviews and quality assures curriculum delivery with support from senior leaders, through lesson observations, book reviews and regular reviews of planning across all year groups, ensuring that the curriculum is delivered to a high standard and that there is no mismatch between planned and delivered curriculum. Areas of concern are identified and addressed through training and support, enabling curriculum expertise to develop across the school.
Science at Walmley Junior School is not all about writing! We believe in giving our pupils opportunities to complete practical investigations, and a range of appropriate resources are available to facilitate the effective implementation of the Science curriculum. Children’s learning is recorded in a variety of ways including photographs to capture those awe and wonder moments. A wide and rich variety of equipment is used to support learning. Our extensive school grounds also play an important role in Science at Walmley, such as the identification of animal habitats. Vegetables have been grown from seed in our school allotment, enabling children to observe plants growth in a real life context and on a larger scale than is possible in the classroom. This also strengthens links to other areas of the curriculum such as DT; where vegetables and herbs grown in school can be prepared and eaten in Food Technology. Children are encouraged to link Science to food production.
Science is celebrated in school with the commemoration of STEM achievements such as the lunar landings. We have also participated in programmes linked to the ISS. The profile of Science is maintained through whole school initiatives such as a Science Fair and a very popular afterschool Science Club where children carry out (often messy!) investigations and which inspires a passion for Science. STEM is also celebrated by visiting the Big Bang Science Fair.
Impact
As children’s curiosity is nurtured through an engaging, high-quality science education, so they become independent, self-motivated scientists. Children build up resilience and confidence in themselves and in their ability to think as scientists. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links such as West Midlands Police forensic team and visits by Severn Trent Water. By learning from and working with professionals, we ensure that children have access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. Through the pupil voice, we know that our children leave Walmley Junior School with a love of Science and a real passion for scientific investigation.
Progression of Skills