Science Curriculum Statement;
Intent, Implementation and Impact
April 2023

Intent – What do we want to achieve in Science teaching and learning?

At St Laurence, our Science curriculum aims to equip children with the foundations for understanding the world through a scientific lens. Through our curriculum, the children are exposed to a high-quality curriculum exploring specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics alongside the National Curriculum requirements. The children research people who have made significant contributions to the field of science over time and are taught to be inquisitive about the future of Science discovery, as well as to consider the implications for today and the future. Through our progressive curriculum, the children build a body of key foundational science knowledge which works collaboratively with developing their children’s scientific enquiry skills. Our scientific enquiries provide them with a plethora of opportunities, but first they deepen their understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science in order to answer scientific questions. Our curriculum enables children to understand the important role that science plays in the sustainability of life on earth. We want our children to explore their Science lessons with enthusiasm, curiosity and a passion for discovery.

Implementation – How do we plan and teach Science?

Our Science Curriculum at St Laurence is a Knowledge-rich curriculum where knowledge is valued and specified, well sequenced and taught to be remembered. Through this incremental knowledge curriculum, our children have multiple opportunities to secure and build on their knowledge and understanding as subject content is revisited at points throughout the curriculum. Throughout our science curriculum, children are taught that scientific discoveries have been made since time began around the world and explore the people who have made significant contributions to the field of science over time. Our Science lesson design allows for the application of Rosenshine’s Principles through opportunities for reviewing material, questioning, sequencing concepts and modelling and stages of practice.

Our children are encouraged to use the knowledge they learn in Science and apply it to investigations that test a theory or set out to answer a question. Substantive scientific knowledge is taught first, before children are asked to undertake enquiry and this to ensure they fully understand the elements of the enquiry first and this will equip them to make informed observations about the processes they see. Gathering information, recording data, graphing data and interpreting findings are all essential skills that our children will apply to new contexts as they work through the curriculum.

Enquiries include:

• observing over time

• pattern seeking

• identifying, classifying and grouping

• comparative and fair testing

• researching using secondary sources.

Scientific enquiries deepen their understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science as a discipline and how it differs from other subjects they are studying. Pupils gain an understanding of the purpose and uses of science both today and in the future.

Impact – - What are the Science learning outcomes for our pupils, and how do we know?

Each science unit sets out clear, specific knowledge goals, assessment outcomes and suggested assessment tasks. We ensure that when assessing pupils’, evidence is drawn from a wide range of sources including during discussions with pupils and related questioning, day to day observations, practical enquiry-based evidence and completed written work in books. This evidence is used to inform the teachers developing picture of the knowledge and understanding of each pupil, plan future learning accordingly and address any misconceptions and gaps immediately.

The impact of this curriculum will lead to good progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave St Laurence reaching at least age-related expectations for Science. Through a varied curriculum and school trips/visitors our Science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically. We will 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 and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.