Science at St John's

Vision Statement for Science at St John’s

School Vision (Intent, Implementation, Impact): 

At St John’s C of E Primary, it is our intent that we implement our vision of John 10:10 through all areas of school life, including the curriculum.  

“I came that they have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10 

“A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.” – National Curriculum 2014

Intent;

At St John’s, our intent is to give every child a broad and balanced Science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to love Science. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be doctors, nurses, astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists or microbiologists as well as the less obvious scientific roles such as gardeners, zookeepers and chocolate makers! We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with!

Implementation:

To achieve this, our Science curriculum involves exciting, practical hands on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning wherever possible. Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love and thirst for learning. At St John’s, we have a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum, which has been carefully designed and developed with the need of every child at the centre of what we do, so that every child is a success. Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupil’s views and attitudes to Science to support the children’s enjoyment of science and to motivate learners.

Our curriculum and high-quality teaching aims to ensure that all children:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics;

• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;

• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future;

• develop an enthusiasm for science that will lay the foundations for future study at Key Stage 3;
• make good use of knowledge organisers which outline the knowledge (including vocabulary) that all children must master;
• enthusiastically participate in low stakes quizzes which regularly support learners’ ability to increase space in the working memory and enable children to retain and recall key learning;
• engage with challenge questions to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner.

Impact

Our Science Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression as we want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the Science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life, as well as a thirst for extending and deepening their Scientific learning. Outcomes in books and in discussions with children will evidence a broad and balanced Science curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge and scientific enquiry skills. The large majority of children will achieve age-related expectations at the end of Key Stage 1 and 2.