“Our curriculum promotes social mobility;

we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.”

Do your little bit of good where you are.  It's those bits of good put together that overwhelm the world - Desmond Tutu

Science at St George’s

Intent 

At St George’s, we believe that Science is an important part of each child’s education. Science aims to bring awe and wonder into the lives of our children alongside developing key scientific skills and knowledge. During their time at St George’s, all children will develop an understanding of the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.  In all year groups, children develop an understanding of the processes and methods of Science through a range of investigations that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

Our intent is to equip children with curious, resilient, scientific minds that will enable them to confidently understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.   This fits in with our school drivers, in particular Reach for the Stars, where our Science curriculum inspires the excitement, creativity and critical thinking about the world that will equip young people to make their own way in it. In addition to our Reach for the Stars driver, our Science curriculum supports with Healthy Body Healthy Minds by educating the children at St George’s about how to care for their bodies and make healthy choices as they grow up. Our vast outdoor provision, including Base Camp, the allotment and the forest area allows the children at St George’s to explore scientific phenomena within the school grounds; this supports The Natural World driver.

Implementation 

The design and progression of our Science curriculum allows for knowledge and skills to be built upon over time as children progress through St George’s. In addition to stand-alone Science lessons, key vocabulary and concepts are revisited during our Daily Dashboard sessions. This aims to allow children to transfer their learning from Science lessons into their long-term memory.

 In EYFS, children explore scientific concepts within their continuous provision. High quality resources are provided for children to allow them to explore their outdoor area. Teaching staff encourage children to explore and support them to describe what they see, hear and feel while they are outside.

In KS1, children will explore the world around them and raise their own questions. Teachers plan opportunities for children to use a range of high-quality equipment to complete science experiments. Children are encouraged to make informed predictions, use equipment to collect data before recording and communicating their findings.

In KS2, children develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas.  They will have the opportunity to investigate scientific questions by carrying out comparative and fair tests using a range of resources. Pupils will be able to draw conclusions based on observations and explain their findings using appropriate scientific vocabulary.   

In all year groups, lessons will feature a hands-on approach with opportunities to use subject- specific resources, e.g., magnets, magnifying glasses and measuring equipment.  In addition to an engaging, hands-on approach, exciting school trips are planned which aim to bring science alive for our young learners. During the summer term, KS2 children will be visiting the Magna Science Centre. This trip will inspire scientific curiosity and enhance the scientific learning taking place in each classroom.

To fit in with our driver of The Natural World, all teachers utilise the outdoor learning spaces when teaching Science lessons, including basecamp, the forest area and the allotment. This gives the children the opportunity to investigate the natural processes, plants and habitats in their immediate area.

Impact  

Children are assessed by class teachers on Target Tracker. Teachers assess the children based on the key knowledge objectives and appropriate working scientifically objectives. This happens at the end of each term. These assessments are recorded and monitored by the Science Curriculum Lead and standards are tracked

Pupils’ knowledge and skills will progress as they develop a secure understanding of each key block of knowledge and concepts. Pupils will be able to describe associated processes and key characteristics and be able to use technical terminology accurately and precisely. As children progress through the school, their scientific vocabulary will expand and they will also and be able to demonstrate their mathematical skills collect and present data.