Science at Lowerhouse Junior School

Intent

When science is taught it encapsulates a variety of skills such as analytical thinking, communication, creative writing and reading. Children are encouraged to develop questions and investigations to deepen their understanding of the world around them. By creating lines of enquiry, children broaden their understanding of the world. The science National Curriculum identifies three key areas in which the children should be taught: knowledge and understanding; working scientifically and the application of science. Our school planning focuses upon these.  

Through practical activities and working with others, children are able to develop the skills of observation, prediction, investigation, interpretation, questioning and hypothesising. In line with our school values, children are taught resilience, it is often that investigations may need to be repeated with different variables to test a hypothesis. Children are encouraged to use key scientific vocabulary to be able to share their learning and ideas with others.  

Children with SEND or in receipt of pupil premium funding may have work that is different/ scaffolded for them in order to access the science curriculum. It is our belief that children are provided with a range of opportunities to actively carry out different types of scientific enquiries. Lowerhouse strives to enable all children to make strong progress in science, whilst developing enjoyment and passion for the subject. In addition, the wider curriculum provides many opportunities to apply and deepen children’s understanding of science. 

Implementation

The National Curriculum focuses on two dimensions for teaching science:

• Developing scientific knowledge
• Developing scientific skills

At Lowerhouse Junior School, science is taught as a discrete subject and focuses on developing pupils’ competence in both dimensions. Our scientific teaching is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry.

To ensure imaginative, purposeful and well managed lessons, we use ‘Developing Experts’ to support the planning of science within our school. Lessons are  delivered in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in lessons. Interactive, practical activities encourage the children to discuss their ideas and extend their understanding of difficult concepts and challenging questions.  Well planned lessons along with access to a vast range of up-to-date scientific equipment, the use of knowledge organisers and subject specific vocabulary displays in classrooms ensures that children receive the best possible science lessons in our school and can apply science to the wider world and staff are confident teaching science.

Science teaching ensures that:

• All pupils are given the opportunity to develop scientific knowledge and acquire scientific skills in a science lesson.
• Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
• A vast range of up-to-date scientific equipment is utilised within science lessons.
• Children are given opportunities to explore, question, predict, research, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
• Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations, diagrams, graphs and charts to enable our children to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data.

Impact

By the time children leave Lowerhouse Junior School,  children will not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives. They will pursue their natural curiosity in a safe environment, developing an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through scientific enquiries and can answer scientific questions about the world around them. They are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.