'Science helps us to answer our biggest questions and to meet our most basic needs: from explaining the deepest mysteries of the universe to the structure of elementary particles that form atoms. The findings of science have fundamentally shaped every aspect of our world. Science drives innovation, creating new knowledge to help us solve current and future problems. All young people are entitled to a high-quality science education, to the curiosity it engenders and the understanding and the opportunity it brings.'
(Ofsted FInding the optimum: the science subject report. Feb 2023)
Science is a core subject of the national curriculum and is therefore an important part of what pupils should learn.
Our science curriculum will develop conceptual understanding, improve understanding and use of science specific vocabulary alongside everyday language; support application of mathematical processes and skills and instil a love of science and awareness of the world around us. Ultimately, science in the early years and primary years aims to engage the future generation of scientists. This can be achieved by providing engaging learning, a wide range of opportunities and links to real life science and scientists.
There are two important aspects of science in which pupils need to build their understanding throughout their time at school.
Substantive knowledge: established knowledge produced by science eg parts of a flower, names of planets in the solar system
Disciplinary knowledge: refers to what pupils learn about how to establish and refine scientific knowledge eg by carrying out practical procedures. Also referred to as 'working scientifically'.
There is a strong thread of 'working scientifically' running through all the areas of science which we study.
Science is taught weekly in Years 1-6. Because our classes are mixed age, we have developed a 2 year cycle of science 'topics' . We use materials from the Association of Science Education to support our planning in science.
In the Early Years, science is a continuous part of the children's learning.
