Science

"Our aim at Highfield is to build scientific confidence that will last a lifetime!" 

A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key fundamental knowledge and concepts our pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. Pupils are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.  While it is important that pupils make progress, it is also vitally important that they develop secure understanding of each key block of knowledge and concepts in order to progress to the next stage.

Intent

 Science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working that enable them to make sense of the world in which they live through investigation and using and applying process skills.  

• To build a science curriculum which develops learning and results in the aquisition of both knowledge and vocabulary.
• To enable children to become enquiry based learners through our science curriculum.
• To build on children's current knowledge and scientific skills. 
• To facilitate a love for science 

Implementation of science in school:

Strategies are in place within school to develop each of the key areas of science, ensuring coverage of the National Curriculum 2014 and systematic coverage of key skill.

• At Highfield we encourage the development of positive attitudes to science.  
• Through clear and accurate  explanations and skillful questioning, teachers help children to develop and extend scientific concepts of their world, and encourage them to ask deeper questions about the world around them
•  Teaching and learning plans for practical investigations within science lessons, with teachers providing guidance whilst supporting and giving children the freedom to explore as independently as possible to encourage independent thinking.
• Children build on prior knowledge (Assessment for learning opportunities at the beginning of a unit) and  link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners. 
• Children are encouraged to make strong, purposeful links between science and other subjects. Using ICT in a meaningful way to extend their learning (Data Loggers, video, photography, microscopes and iPads).
•  Using enquiry based learning opportunities teachers help develop children's use of scientific language, recording types and techniques. 
• In KS1 and KS2 a minimum of 50% of science lessons include practical scientific investigation. In the Early Years children are taught the required science elements of the foundation stage document through active learning opportunities in cross curricular themes.

• Carefully planned lessons help our children to develop the following skills of investigation – observation, measuring, predicting, hypothesising, experimenting, communicating and interpreting.

IMPACT

 The approach to science at Highfield Primary results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge 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. 

The high profile of science is maintained through trips and activities such as Science Club and engagement with national initiatives and interactions with local visitors, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association and  SEERIH ensuring that children have access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving. Children at Highfield enjoy science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding.

Long Term Plans and Progression

Computing long term plans and progression documents can be found  on our Curriculum Overview page using the following link:

Policy:

School policies including those related to this subject can be found using the following link: