Science Curriculum Statement
Intent
At Sacred Heart we follow Kapow Primary’s Science curriculum. Using this we aim to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and an understanding of how the scientific community contributes to the past, present and future.
The curriculum aims for pupils to develop a complex knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics but also adopt a broad range of skills in working scientifically and beyond. The scheme of work is inclusive and meaningful so all pupils may experience the joy of science and make associations between their science learning and their lives outside the classroom. Studying science allows pupils to appreciate how new knowledge and skills can be fundamental to solving arising global challenges.
The curriculum aims to encourage critical thinking and empower pupils to question the hows and whys of the world around them.
The scheme encourages:
● A strong focus on developing knowledge alongside scientific skills across biology, chemistry and physics.
● Curiosity and excitement about familiar and unknown observations.
● Challenging misconceptions and demystifying truths.
● Continuous progression by building on practical and investigative skills across all units.
● Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain and analyse evidence.
● Development of scientific literacy using wide-ranging, specialist vocabulary. Kapow Primary’s Science scheme of work supports pupils in meeting the Early Learning Goals for Understanding the world (The Natural world) and the end of key stage attainment targets set out in the National curriculum.
Implementation
To meet the aims of the National curriculum for science and in response to the Ofsted research review: science, Kapow has identified the following key strands:
● Scientific knowledge and understanding of:
○ biology: living organisms and vital processes;
○ chemistry: matter and its properties;
○ physics: how the world we live in ‘works’.
● Working scientifically: processes and methods of science to answer questions about the world around us.
● Science in action: uses and implications of science in the past, present and for the future.
Kapow Primary’s Science scheme is a spiral curriculum, with essential knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. A range of engaging recall activities promotes frequent pupil reflection on prior learning, ensuring new learning is approached with confidence. The Science in action strand is interwoven throughout the scheme to make the concepts and skills relevant to pupils and inspiring for future application. Cross-curricular links are included throughout each unit, allowing pupils to make connections and apply their science skills to other areas of learning.
Each unit is based on one of the key science disciplines: biology, chemistry and physics. The National curriculum content has been grouped into six key areas of science to show progression throughout the school:
Plants.
Animals, including humans.
Living things and habitats.
Materials.
Energy.
Forces, Earth and space.
Pupils explore knowledge and conceptual understanding through engaging activities and an introduction to relevant, specialist vocabulary. As suggested in Ofsted research review: science (April 2021), the Working scientifically skills are integrated with conceptual understanding rather than taught discretely to provide frequent but relevant opportunities for developing scientific enquiry skills. The scheme utilises practical activities that aid in the progression of individual skills and provide opportunities for full investigations
In EYFS (Reception), pupils build a solid foundation for science before transitioning to Key stage 1. Through hands-on exploration and focused observations, lessons spark curiosity and foster an early appreciation for the natural environment, paving the way for more structured scientific learning in Key stage 1.
Each year group has an optional exploratory unit called ‘making connections’ that delves beyond the statutory curriculum. This unit assimilates prior knowledge and skills to evoke excitement and provide an additional method of assessing scientific attainment.
Lessons incorporate various teaching strategies, from independent tasks to paired and group work, including practical, creative, computer-based and collaborative tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with different learning styles. In Year 1, the transition into the Key stage is eased by providing a selection of activities: some adult-led, some independent tasks and some that can be used during continuous provision.
Learning is adapted for every lesson to ensure that all pupils can access it and opportunities are offered to stretch learning when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit help to identify key learning and vocabulary and can be useful as an adaptive teaching tool or to revise learning from the unit.
Impact
The impact of Kapow Primary’s Science scheme is constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each unit has a unit quiz and a knowledge and skills catcher, which are used at the beginning or end of the unit to provide a summative assessment. Opportunities for pupils to communicate using scientific vocabulary will also form part of the assessment process in each unit.
After implementing Kapow Primary Science, pupils should leave school equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in science at Key stage 3. They will have the necessary tools to confidently and meaningfully question and explore the world around them and critically and analytically experience and observe phenomena. Pupils will understand the significance and impact of science on society.
The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Science scheme of work is that pupils will:
● Develop early scientific thinking skills through hands-on exploration and sensory experiences in EYFS (Reception).
● Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the biology topics in the National curriculum: Plants; Animals, including humans; Living things and their habitats; and Evolution and inheritance.
● Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the chemistry topics in the National curriculum: Everyday materials; Uses of everyday materials; Properties and changes of materials; States of matter; and Rocks.
● Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the physics topics in the National curriculum: Seasonal changes; Forces and magnets; Sound; Light; Electricity; and Earth and space.
● Evaluate and identify the methods that ‘real world’ scientists use to develop and answer scientific questions.
● Identify and use equipment effectively to accurately gather, measure and record data.
● Be able to display and convey data in a variety of ways, including graphs.
● Analyse data to identify, classify, group and find patterns.
● Use evidence to formulate explanations and conclusions.
● Demonstrate scientific literacy through presenting concepts and communicating ideas using scientific vocabulary.
● Understand the importance of resilience and a growth mindset, particularly in reference to scientific enquiry.
● Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for science
We are proud that :
Our children enter local and national competitions, more often than not with an environmental theme.
Our children care deeply for the environment - they voluntarily litter pick in the school grounds and local community, organise recycling events and raise funds for charities such as Just One Tree, The Rainforest Alliance and Friends of the Earth.
We have a special award : our Da Vinci award for the wider curriculum which is focused upon pupils demonstrating creativity, drive and a creative, critical mind set.
Each year we focus on promoting science- be it via our themed watch us at work sessions, science week or stay and play mornings (in the early years).
We have a greenhouse on site and have recently developed a garden where the children grow their own produce.
