Science

Intent

Implementation

Impact

At St. Margaret's, our children are scientists!  Our intent is to give every child a broad and balanced science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in.  

We want our children to love science and to feel that science ‘is for them’.   We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to use science throughout their lives.

We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with.  

We have a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum which has been carefully designed and developed with the need of every child and our local context at the centre of what we do.

A focus on STEM careers is central to our planning; we want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Science in our school is about developing children’s ideas and ways of working; it involves exciting, practical hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning and we make sure that we plan learning experiences which allow children to explore their outdoor environment and locality, thus developing their scientific enquiry and investigative skill. 

Our lessons are full of scientific vocabulary, which aids children’s knowledge and understanding not only of the topic they are studying, but of the world around them.

We intend to provide all children -  regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability -  with a broad and balanced science curriculum and help them to see that science is relevant to them.

Our science curriculum is designed based on the National Curriculum and the Hamilton Brookes planning. 

Within our science curriculum we have taken bold decisions regarding the scientists we study to enhance the children's understanding of different cultures and their views.

We make science lessons as practical and engaging as possible, developing in children the ability to carry out fair tests.

As part of their learning, children write up experiments and investigations ensuring they use literacy skills and technical vocabulary appropriately. 

Trips and visitors are sometimes used within units of work to support the development of skills and understanding as appropriate. 

The impact of our science curriculum and teaching will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills.  

All children will leave  with a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and investigative skills.  They will have a richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding and views of scientific concepts and their place in the world.

Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, pupils will be enthusiastic science learners and understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.  

Through the experiences and interactions that they have in our school, and in the local community, our children will know that anyone can be a scientist.

Our ultimate goal is that children’s science capital will be increased through their time with us and that they will be empowered, inspired and understand that they have the capability to change the world.