Science

Back to Subject List

According to the curriculum, the principal focus of science teaching in key stage 2 is to enable pupils to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They should do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions. They should ask their own questions about what they observe and make some decisions about which types of scientific enquiry are likely to be the best ways of answering them, including observing changes over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative and fair tests and finding things out using secondary sources of information. They should draw simple conclusions and use some scientific language, first, to talk about and, later, to write about what they have found out.

The principal focus of science teaching in upper key stage 2 is to enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas. They should do this through exploring and talking about their ideas; asking their own questions about scientific phenomena; and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically. At upper key stage 2, they should encounter more abstract ideas and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world operates. They should also begin to recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time. They should select the most appropriate ways to answer science questions using different types of scientific enquiry, including observing changes over different periods of time, 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. Pupils should 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.

“At my old school we never did experiments, but now we do them all the time. I love experiments because you get a better understanding and view of things. They are great fun!” Year 3 pupil

20230126 142850

Curriculum Intentions

At Hammond Junior School, our children are scientists. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all children should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Our intent is to provide every child with a broad and balanced science curriculum in which broadens children’s scientific view of the world around them. We want our children to feel excited by science, be inquisitive and ask questions about the world around them. We want to develop children’s scientific skills needed to investigate and find out the answers to their questions and for them to use scientific equipment with confidence. To accomplish this, we aim to provide engaging, practical, thought-provoking science lessons every week. Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help every child secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary, as well as promoting a love for the subject and thirst for learning. At Hammond Junior School, we want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of later life.

20220929 135716009 iOS

Curriculum Implementation

At Hammond Junior School, Science topics are taught within each year group every week using Developing Experts in accordance with the National Curriculum. Each unit of work is blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills. Each year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills. Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest of the science. Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as report and conclude their findings. Children present their findings in various ways including tables, charts, and scientific diagrams. Children also use science specific language, in order to discuss ideas and explain findings. At the beginning of each lesson, key words are discussed and practised to ensure all children can develop their vocabulary and therefore can use them when explaining their findings. Children are given a knowledge organiser at the start of each topic which includes key information, vocabulary and knowledge they will use and learn. The knowledge organisers are used as a reference document to support children in their acquisition of knowledge. Educational visits and visitors are planned to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum. This includes events during British Science Week.

Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained. Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed. Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it. Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.

Y4 Science photos 2

Curriculum Impact

The impact of our science curriculum will lead to children attaining well in science and making significant progress over time relative to a child’s starting point and their progression of skills. Our children will develop the skills needed to safely utilise scientific equipment, record their scientific learning and develop appropriate scientific vocabulary and be able to use this with confidence. Children will therefore be expected to leave Hammond meeting at least age-related expectations within the subject. Through enrichment activities including workshops, trips and interactions from experts, children will have experience moments of awe and wonder that will be memorable and will cause them to embrace the scientific opportunities they may be presented with. We want to empower our children, so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work in exercise books and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.

“Science is one of my favourite subjects because we get to complete fun experiments where we find out new things. Without science, there would be so much about the world we don’t know." Year 4 pupil

20220606 093755 Y4 Science photos 3