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Science

‘He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.’

Isaiah 40:22

At St Hilda’s CE (VA) Primary School we strive to provide a high-quality science education that develops children’s understanding of the world through the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.

In an ever-changing world, where our children’s future jobs may not even exist yet, it is vital our children understand how science has already changed their lives and how it may shape future prosperity.

We seek to provide children with scientific knowledge, methodologies, and processes but also to give them the real world uses of this science. Our children are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation through exciting investigations, which build on their natural curiosity.

They are expected to:

• Try to explain what is occurring;

• Use appropriate scientific vocabulary and ideas;

• Explain the ‘why?’

We provide a range of different types of scientific enquiry throughout children’s time at St Hilda’s and also encourage open-ended questioning, where they decide how to try to find answer. It is important children are not always directly guided to the ‘right’ answer and they realise that some of the most significant scientific advancements occurred from mistakes.

At St Hilda’s, we are passionate that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability. Enabling all children to access a scientific education should also encourage open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and responsibility, which are skills they can apply in all walks of life.

We teach the National Curriculum for science through topics, discrete units and investigations. Pertinent links are made across the curriculum. These are supported by a clear knowledge and skills progression from EYFS to Year 6. This ensures that knowledge and skills are built upon each year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all pupils.

We ensure that all pupils are exposed to rich learning experiences that aim to:

Build on our pupil’s natural curiosity and develop a scientific approach to solving problems
Prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
Help develop and extend our pupil’s scientific concept of the world they live in.
Develop the use of scientific language and vocabulary, recording and techniques.

Ongoing assessment of key learning in each topic and investigation takes place. Teachers then assess if pupils are working below, expected or at the expected level against the science National Curriculum objectives at the end of the year, using Target Tracker.

We aim to ensure pupils not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives. Our aim for science is to increase the skills needed to navigate an ever-changing world of science and technology by immersing our pupils with scientific enquiry skills, key scientific knowledge and investigative skills. We aim to create a culture of high scientific aspirations, which will allow our pupils to develop their scientific learning and to articulate their understanding of key scientific concepts.

What our pupils say about Science:

'I like it when we do investigations.'

'I like taking part in Mad Science.'

'I enjoy Science because it is fun! '

'I enjoy Science because I like doing experiments. My bit is mighty metal because I got to see magnets attract and repel.'

'I like learning about plants.'

'I like doing Love to Investigate experiments.'