Intent

At Bakewell Methodist Junior School, our vision is to provide a Science curriculum that stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about natural phenomena and events in the world around them.  It also satisfies their curiosity with knowledge and supports one of our main curriculum drivers. Since science links direct practical experience with ideas, it can engage learners at many levels.  The scientific method is about developing and evaluating explanations through experimental evidence and modelling.  Through Science, pupils understand how major scientific ideas contribute towards technological change – impacting the industry, medicine, business and improving quality of life.  They learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives, the directions of society and the future of the world. At the heart of our curriculum are our 3 curriculum drivers: Curiosity, Creativity and Diversity.

Definition of Science

Science is a body of knowledge built up through experimental testing of ideas. Science is also methodology, a practical way of finding reliable answers to questions we may ask about the world around us. 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, as well as using and applying process skills.

Aims

We believe that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability. Our aims in teaching science include the following:

       • To promote the ability to think and work both independently and cooperatively and raise questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills that it brings. 

       • To generate confidence and competence in the full range of practical skills, taking the initiative in, for example, planning and carrying out scientific investigations. 

       • To develop excellent scientific knowledge and understanding which is demonstrated in written and verbal explanations, solving challenging problems and reporting scientific findings.

       • To promote high levels of originality, imagination or innovation in the application of skills.

       • To help increase the ability to undertake practical work in a variety of contexts, including fieldwork.

       • To pass on a passion for science and its application in an increasingly scientific and technological world.

• To foster concern about, and actively care for, our environment and the natural world.
•  Developing our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science.
• Encouraging open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and responsibility. Developing the skills of investigation - including observing, measuring, predicting, hypothesising, experimenting, communicating, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.
•  Developing the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
•  Developing the use of ICT in investigating and recording.
•  Enabling our children to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data.
• To teach pupils to work with proper regard for their safety and that of others, using safety equipment where necessary.
• To bring science to life and make it real so that children understand the importance of Science in the world and their everyday lives.

Implementation

Science in Key Stage Two
In KS2, children have dedicated Science lessons to help them develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas. The KS2 curriculum involves children exploring a range of scientific areas through investigation and enquiry followed by the time given to record, report and analyse results. Children are encouraged to make predictions and observe changes over different periods, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out comparative and fair tests and finding things out using a wide range of secondary sources of information. Children will draw conclusions based on their data and observations, use evidence to justify their ideas, and use their scientific knowledge and understanding to explain their findings applying English, mathematical and computing skills learned within the school.

Assessment

Children will undertake a task at the end of each topic, which will be evaluated by teachers.  This piece of work will consolidate the learning that has taken place over the term.  It will provide teachers with a view of how well each child is progressing through science, and where any gaps are.