Intent
At Willow, we ASPIRE to ensure all children are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. Children develop an enthusiasm for and enjoyment of science through a range of engaging and hands-on activities that encourage them to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. We are ambitious about developing children’s scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of important scientific ideas, along with key processes and skills, through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Children develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of enquires that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them. We endeavour to make lessons thought-provoking and inspiring, leading children to wonder, ask questions, research and then discuss their learning at home to become successful, confident learners, enjoying the process of exploring values and ideas through science. At the heart of our curriculum are our Learning Superpowers, when teaching science we ensure that the children can develop the skills of investigating, evaluating and collaborating alongside developing a resilient mind-set.
Aims
Through our science curriculum, we aim for all pupils to:
In line with the National Curriculum, pupils at Willow are taught to work scientifically through meaningful and engaging learning experiences embedded across biology, chemistry and physics. Pupils develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science by asking questions, exploring ideas and investigating the world around them. They use a range of scientific enquiry approaches, including observing changes over time, identifying and classifying, pattern seeking, comparative and fair testing, and researching using secondary sources. Pupils are encouraged to collect, analyse and present data in order to draw conclusions and answer scientific questions.
To support a well-structured and progressive science curriculum, the school uses a range of high-quality, engaging resources, including those provided by STEM, the Association for Science Education (ASE) and Explorify. A well-stocked range of scientific equipment enables pupils to carry out investigations, make observations and take accurate measurements, helping to foster curiosity, independence and a strong investigative approach to science learning.
Implementation
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, science teaching at Willow focuses on enabling pupils to experience and observe the world around them, including the natural environment and human-made features. Pupils are encouraged to develop curiosity, ask questions and explore what they notice through practical, first-hand experiences.
Learning is supported through a range of scientific enquiry approaches, such as observing changes over time, identifying patterns, grouping and classifying, carrying out simple comparative tests and using secondary sources to find out information. These approaches help pupils to develop their understanding of key scientific ideas while learning how science is used to answer questions about the world.
Pupils begin to use and understand appropriate scientific vocabulary, communicating their ideas and findings in a variety of ways and to different audiences. While most learning takes place through hands-on activities, pupils are also introduced to a range of suitable secondary sources, including books, photographs and videos, to broaden their understanding.
‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout the teaching of science and is always clearly linked to substantive science content. Scientific skills and methods are taught through context, ensuring that pupils develop secure foundations in both knowledge and enquiry skills. Pupils are supported to read, understand and spell scientific vocabulary at a level appropriate to their developing reading and spelling knowledge in Key Stage 1.
Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, science teaching at Willow enables pupils to broaden their scientific understanding of the world around them. Pupils explore, discuss, test and develop ideas about everyday phenomena, the relationships between living things and their environments, and begin to build an understanding of scientific concepts such as functions, relationships and interactions.
Pupils are encouraged to ask their own scientific questions and make decisions about which types of enquiry are most appropriate to answer them. These enquiries include observing changes over time, identifying patterns, grouping and classifying, carrying out comparative and fair tests, and using secondary sources to research information. Pupils are supported to draw simple conclusions based on evidence and to explain their findings.
The use of scientific vocabulary is developed progressively, with pupils using appropriate language confidently to discuss their learning and, increasingly, to record their ideas in written form.
‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout all science teaching and is clearly linked to substantive scientific content. Scientific methods and enquiry skills are taught through meaningful contexts, ensuring pupils continue to build secure knowledge alongside enquiry skills. Pupils are expected to read, understand and spell scientific vocabulary accurately, using their developing reading and spelling knowledge with increasing confidence.
Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, science teaching at Willow focuses on enabling pupils to develop a deeper and more secure understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas. Pupils explore and discuss their thinking, ask their own scientific questions and analyse functions, relationships and interactions in a more systematic and increasingly abstract way. Through this, pupils begin to recognise how scientific ideas help explain and predict how the world operates, as well as understand that scientific knowledge develops and changes over time.
Pupils select and use the most appropriate types of scientific enquiry to answer questions, including observing changes over different periods of time, identifying patterns, grouping and classifying, carrying out comparative and fair tests, and researching information using a wide range of secondary sources. They are supported to draw conclusions based on data and observations, use evidence to justify their ideas and apply their scientific knowledge to explain findings with increasing accuracy and confidence.
‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout science teaching and is always clearly linked to substantive science content. Scientific methods and enquiry skills are developed through meaningful and challenging contexts, ensuring pupils gain a secure understanding of both scientific knowledge and investigative processes. Pupils are expected to read, spell and pronounce scientific vocabulary correctly, using precise language to communicate scientific ideas clearly.
Impact
As a result of the science curriculum at Willow: