Intent

At Farsley Springbank Primary School, we want our children to be naturally curious and inquisitive about the world around them. We deliver a high quality, bespoke and flexible science curriculum that inspires and challenges all children. All pupils will be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science so that they can emulate these skills in school and beyond. Our whole school curriculum develops a sense of awe and wonder which encourages children to enquiry and ask questions about natural phenomena. Children will be encouraged to work scientifically in each lesson as well as being able to use scientific enquiry skills to explain what is happening, predict outcomes and analyse data. Children will be exposed to first hand experiences both indoor and out, which will allow children to recognise that science is not confined to a classroom and will build upon their science capital.

As a school and in accordance with the National Curriculum expectations, we ensure that we:

• Develop pupil’s enjoyment and interests in science and how it contributes to their everyday life building upon their science capital
• Build pupil’s curiosity and sense of awe of the natural world
• Use a rich variety of teaching styles to allow children to observe, test and learn about a range of scientific concepts throughout their time at school
• To develop the children’s understanding of the 5 types of scientific enquiry skills
• To link science topics where appropriate to wider school learning within the curriculum.

Implementation

Within Early Years, the planning is based on the objectives taken from ‘Understanding of the World’ and taught through provision areas and focused tasks with the class teacher. Teachers ensure that the provision areas spark science curiosity and allow children to explore elements of the scientific enquiry skills. 

In Key Stage One and Two, children are usually taught a minimum of one science lesson per week. Planning ensures effective coverage of the national curriculum plus opportunities for retrieval throughout the year so that children are frequently recapping prior learning and embedding knowledge in to their long term memory. Teachers make reference to the overviews and learning journeys to carefully sequence lessons, ensuring that there is clear progression throughout year groups. Scientific enquiry skills are built into every session with particular emphasis on the ‘Working Scientifically’ aspect of the curriculum. With this in mind, topics often involve practical, hands on activities and are linked to real-life contexts to make learning more meaningful to the pupils. Key scientific language is modelled throughout lessons enabling our children to be familiar with and use vocabulary accurately. Teachers are also encouraged to plan in trips and visitors to enhance children’s learning experience.

Science long term plan

Science progression of skills and knowledge

Science learning journeys

Here are some examples of our science learning journeys.

Science Enrichment 

At Springbank, we ensure that all children are exposed to a broad range of experiences that link to the science curriculum. Children build upon their scientific knowledge by taking part in workshops, going on school trips and talking to members of the public within the scientific field.  Science is EVERYWHERE and we want to ensure all children have the opportunity to see it in action both in and out of the classroom.

British Science Week

At Springbank, we strive towards providing the children with an enriched Science curriculum... but it doesn't stop there! During the spring term, we dedicate a week to Science. Our children will become scientists by completing research, planning and delivering experiments and will go on additional trips to explore careers within the scientific field. 

Take a look at some of our pictures below.