Science

As young scientists, children at Brampton Primary School are taught science on a one year cycle through exciting half termly topics to cover the breadth and balance of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) and on a two year rolling programme in Y1/2, Y3/4 and Y5/6 to cover the objectives on the New  National Curriculum 2014. Children are encouraged to explore and investigate through a range of practical investigative activities. There is a balance of knowledge and understanding, enquiry and investigation. Children apply their literacy and maths skills throughout their science learning.

Intent:

Science teaching at Brampton Primary School aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.

At Brampton Primary School, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school.  Topics such as Plants, are taught in Key Stage One and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two.  This model allows children to build upon their prior knowledge and increases their enthusiasm for each topic whist embedding this procedural knowledge into the long-term memory.

All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigation, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions.  Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged.  Concepts taught should be reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.

Implementation:

Brampton Primary School use the Kent Scheme for Science.  This scheme promotes children ‘learning by doing’.  Due to mixed aged classes Science is taught on a two-year rolling programme. As part of each unit:

• Teachers ensure they maintain a high level of subject knowledge through regular training and professional development.
• Teachers use assessment for learning to tailor lesson around our children and help us plan for next steps.
• We strongly encourage all pupils to use subject specific topic related vocabulary.
• Through effective teaching of Science, we develop children’s knowledge and key skills during each topic.
• We are a well-equipped and resourced school.
• Regular monitoring shows that our children understand and apply key scientific principles within their work.
• Children are provided with regular opportunities to develop strategies for questioning and thinking.
• In our school we have a rigorous monitoring process which is kept up to date and works towards our school improvement plan.
• Trips and visits from experts enhance the learning experience.

Impact

• Children enjoy and are enthusiastic about Science in our school.
• There is a clear progression of children’s work and teachers’ expectations.
• Children’s work shows a range of topics and evidence of the curriculum coverage for all Science topics.
• Children are becoming increasingly independent in Science, selecting their own tools and materials, completing pupil led investigations and choosing their own strategies for recording.
• Feedback from teachers has impact on our pupils, often with next step questions to push learning on.
• Standards in Science at the end of the key stages are good and issues arising are addressed effectively in school.
• Our SLT and governors are kept up to date with developments in the way Science is run in our school with action plans and review meetings.