Science

'The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers,  they are the one who asks the right questions.' - Claude Levi-Strauss

Curriculum Intent

At Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School, our science curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity, foster enthusiasm, and develop a deep understanding of the world around us. Our approach is built on four core concepts:

• Studying living things (Biology)
• Understanding things we cannot see (Physics)
• Material properties and changes (Chemistry)
• Working scientifically (Enquiry)

These core concepts form the foundation of our science education, through which we aim to:

• Cultivate a love for scientific inquiry and natural phenomena, encouraging children to explore confidently and think critically about the world they inhabit. We develop essential characteristics of scientists, including questioning, understanding scientific contributions to society, observation, teamwork, and articulating concepts clearly across all core areas.
• Promote global and local citizenship by helping children understand the importance of making informed, sustainable lifestyle choices. Students apply their scientific knowledge to real-world situations, making responsible decisions that impact their environment and community.
• Create cross-curricular links, demonstrating the relevance of scientific thinking in all areas of study and life. For example, physics concepts might be applied in mathematics, while biological understanding could enhance learning in health education.
• Instill a genuine interest in science and a sense of fascination about the world, from the wonder of living systems to the mysteries of the unseen physical world and the fascinating transformations in chemistry.

Our intent aligns with our school's ethos of 'Quality, Enthusiasm, and Partnership', providing a high-quality science education based on the National Curriculum, enhanced by our unique approaches and core concepts.

Implementation

To achieve our intent, we implement a comprehensive and engaging approach to science education:

• Curriculum Structure: Weekly science lessons throughout Key Stage 1 and 2, with science integrated into learning through play in Early Years. We use the Developing Experts scheme to ensure progressive development of skills and knowledge across all core concept areas.
• Teaching Strategies: Our approach includes problem-solving opportunities, engaging lessons with high-quality resources, precise questioning, regular assessment, and lessons planned in clear sequences. This ensures active engagement and critical thinking development across all core concept areas.
• Skill Development: We embed 'Working Scientifically' skills into lessons, using our 'science toolbox' to promote investigative skills. This enquiry-based approach is applied consistently whether studying living things, investigating unseen physical phenomena, or exploring material properties and changes.
• Vocabulary and Concepts: We focus on introducing new vocabulary and challenging concepts through direct teaching, emphasizing scientific literacy across all core concept areas.
• Hands-on Learning: Our curriculum includes demonstrations, outdoor learning opportunities, workshops with experts, and educational visits. These experiences bring science to life, making it tangible and relevant to students' lives across all core areas.
• Cross-curricular Integration: We integrate science with other subjects, particularly emphasizing links with reading and mathematics. Our core concepts are often explored in conjunction with other subjects, highlighting the pervasive nature of scientific thinking.
• Enhancement Activities: We offer Active Learning Science days, participation in Science Week, and community links to showcase career possibilities in science across all core concept areas.

Our approach reflects our commitment to quality through evidence-based approaches, enthusiasm through engaging experiences, and partnership through collaboration with experts and the community.

Key Resources

National Curriculum Science

NHPS Science Skills and Knowledge Progression

EYFS - Curriculum Map

Year 1 - Curriculum Map

Year 2 - Curriculum Map

Year 3 - Curriculum Map

Year 4 - Curriculum Map

Year 5 - Curriculum Map

Year 6 - Curriculum Map

Impact

The impact of our science curriculum is evident in the following outcomes:

• Student Attributes: Our students become resilient, independent, and curious scientists who approach scientific inquiry with confidence and excitement across all core concept areas.
• Scientific Understanding: Students develop a solid understanding of how science impacts the world, making links between different scientific areas. They gain comprehensive knowledge in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Working Scientifically, preparing them for advanced study.
• Skills and Competencies: Our curriculum fosters proficiency in working scientifically and applying investigative skills across all core areas. Students confidently use scientific equipment, methods, and communication tools.
• Long-term Learning: We support knowledge retention through spaced retrieval exercises, ensuring scientific concepts are truly understood and internalized across all core concept areas.
• Preparation for Future Learning: Our students are well-prepared for Key Stage 3 science and gain insight into potential STEM careers, with a broad knowledge base across biology, physics, and chemistry.
• Environmental Awareness: Students develop respect for living organisms and the physical environment, understanding the importance of sustainable practices. This awareness contributes to their development as responsible, environmentally conscious citizens.
• Cross-curricular Application: Our approach enables students to apply scientific skills and knowledge across other subjects, reinforcing the interdisciplinary nature of scientific thinking.

We assess impact through regular low-stake assessments, observation of engagement and enthusiasm, evaluation of skill application, and monitoring of scientific literacy progression across all core concept areas.

Through this comprehensive approach, grounded in our core concepts and aligning with our ethos of quality, enthusiasm, and partnership, Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School provides a science education that not only meets national standards but also inspires the next generation of scientists, thinkers, and responsible global citizens.