Curriculum Intent Statement - Science

At Fulwood and Cadley Primary School, we believe that science should inspire curiosity, encourage children to ask questions and develop their understanding of the world around them.

Our science curriculum is ambitious for all pupils and is carefully sequenced so that children build upon their previous knowledge and experiences. Through practical investigation, observation, exploration and discussion, children develop the scientific knowledge and skills needed to understand important concepts and explain the world around them.

Alongside developing secure substantive knowledge, we place a strong emphasis on disciplinary knowledge – teaching children how scientists work, investigate, gather evidence and use this evidence to draw conclusions.

How We Teach Science

Science is taught through carefully sequenced units within our two-year rolling curriculum.

Each unit is driven by a purposeful Big Question, giving children a clear focus for their learning. Teachers identify and revisit relevant prior learning before introducing new knowledge, enabling children to make connections and build increasingly secure scientific understanding.

Key scientific vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited throughout each unit. Children are encouraged to explain their thinking using increasingly precise scientific language.

Practical science is an important part of our curriculum. Children have opportunities to observe, compare, classify, measure, investigate, identify patterns, gather and record data and use evidence to draw conclusions.

At the end of each unit, children use their accumulated knowledge and understanding to respond to the Big Question and, where appropriate, make choices about how they demonstrate and present their learning.

Working Scientifically

Working Scientifically is embedded throughout our science curriculum rather than being taught separately.

As children progress through school, they develop increasing independence in asking scientific questions, planning investigations, making predictions, selecting appropriate equipment, taking accurate measurements, recording and presenting results and evaluating evidence.

Children are encouraged to recognise that scientific enquiry involves thinking critically, testing ideas and using evidence to support conclusions.

Developing Independent Scientists

We want our children to see themselves as scientists.

Children are encouraged to be curious, ask questions and investigate ideas for themselves. They are taught to draw upon prior learning and independently use resources available to them, including working walls, scientific equipment, reference materials, iPads and curriculum loan boxes.

Through our science curriculum, we aim to develop children who are curious, knowledgeable and confident scientific thinkers who understand that science plays an important role in their lives and in the wider world.