Science
Subject Co-ordinator: Miss Catherine Stainton
At St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School we follow the Kapow Primary Science scheme to support and enhance our planning of the Science curriculum.
Intent
We aim to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural world through weekly dedicated science lessons, cross- curricular teaching, outdoor activities and trips linked to the science curriculum. We provide lots of practical activities that encourage children to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. We supplement the curriculum with science days and DT activities linked to science.
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Approach
We teach pupils the skills to think and work in a scientific manner with increasing independence as they go through the school. They are challenged to think as Scientists, using the correct vocabulary, asking their own questions and developing their own methods and ways to record and evaluate their results. Research opportunities are provided throughout the school.
Impact
We want children to enjoy and value science and appreciate the range of skills it will provide them with. An essential part of children becoming scientists is promoting curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions. By the end of KS2, our expectation is that children will be able to develop their own questions, plan different types of enquiries to answer those questions and communicate their findings in a variety of ways. Children will understand that part of science is failing and that problem solving helps us to overcome these failures. Children will have a clear understanding of how scientists both past and present have contributed to society's understanding of the world around them. They will understand the role that science and other STEM subjects play in solving some of the key problems facing the world, such as climate change. Pupils are provided with a range of opportunities to showcase and communicate their ideas, research and findings. We ensure that when assessing our pupils, evidence is drawn from a wide range of sources to inform the process including interaction with pupils during discussions and related questioning, day to day observations, practical activities such as practical enquiries, the gathering, presentation and communication of fieldwork data and writing in different genres. The outcomes of each enquiry serve to inform the teacher’s developing picture of the knowledge and understanding of each pupil and to plan future learning accordingly. Teachers also use end of unit KAPOW assessments, as well as continually assessing throughout the unit. Regular scrutiny of books by the subject leader and SLT takes place to check for progress, alongside CPD driven by the subject leader’s findings.
At the end of each year, we make a summative judgement about the achievement of each pupil against the subject learning goals for science in that year. At this point we decide upon a ‘best fit’ judgement as to whether the pupil has achieved and embedded the expected learning goals, exceeded expectations or is still working towards the goals. Pupil voice is measured and demonstrates that pupils enjoy science, they are engaged and enthusiastic. They particularly enjoy experimenting, science trips and further opportunities to practise observation skills.
Enrichment
Regular school trips, local visits, visiting speakers, whole school science days, STEM days and child led opportunities such as the science fair and are just some of the ways in which children gain a full picture of our science curriculum. We want our children to see themselves as scientists and so construct situations that will require them to develop this attitude.