At St Alphonsus’ Catholic Primary School we plan learning and teaching with a view to enabling each child to achieve their full potential and seek the highest level of personal achievement.
Our Science Vision
At St. Alphonsus’, ALL of our children are scientists! We want them to have a deep understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists, microbiologists or medics.
Our Science Intent – Why do we teach reading the way we do, and how does it meet the needs of our pupils?
High Five
- Through a consistent approach to Science, using CUSP Curriculum, pupils will be positive and curious about Science.
- Pupils will build on their learning from prior year groups, therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
- Pupils will explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
- Pupils will present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
- Pupils will have secure scientific knowledge across a range of key concepts to prepare them for academic success at KS3 and beyond.
The implementation of Science, through the use of CUSP Curriculum will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills.
Through various lessons and trips 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. We want to empower our pupils 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.
Implementation of our Science Curriculum – What do we teach? What does it look like?
To support the teaching and learning of science in our school, we have recently started to follow the CUSP Curriculum scheme of learning. As a whole school, we work collaboratively to ensure CUSP works in the best way possible for our pupils. Staff are working to ensure a consistent approach to teaching Science through a strict timetable and the implementation of CUSP.
Like in other subjects, we teach in mixed ability groups, so the pupils can discuss their scientific ideas and carry out scientific investigations. Higher attainers will raise the status of science with those who find some science concepts more challenging.
Differentiation will occur in a way that does not limit a child’s achievements. All children will be
working towards the same goal, however questions and activities will be differentiated with children allowed the opportunity to choose their level of challenge. Skilled teachers and TAs will provide instant feedback to ascertain if the child is being appropriately challenged, and move their learning forward or address misconceptions.
What science looks like EYFS:
In Early Years Foundation Stage science supports children’s understanding of Science through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World.’ Children find out about objects, materials and living things using all of their senses looking at similarities, differences, patterns and change. Both the environment and skilled practitioners foster curiosity and encourage explorative play, children are motivated to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. Our children are encouraged to use their natural environment around them to explore. Children enjoy spending time outdoors exploring minibeasts and their habitats, observing the changing seasons, plants and animals.
What science looks like Y1-Y6:
At St Alphonsus’ Catholic Primary School topics are taught in each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum.
- Topics are blocked so that pupils can focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
- Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
- In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons, as recommended by Rosenshine’s 10 principles of instruction.
- At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- Pupils are given a ‘Knowledge Note’ at the start of each lesson which details some key Science concepts and vocabulary. This is not used as part of an assessment, but to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and the pupils use them as a reference document.
- Effective modelling by teachers and teaching assistants ensures that children are able to achieve, with misconceptions addressed quickly and effectively.
- Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Science curriculum.
Impact of our Science Curriculum – What will be the outcomes we hope to achieve as a result of our Science curriculum?
Pupils will leave our school displaying the qualities of our High FIve Intent. This will be regularly and consistently monitored through:
- Application of scientific principles.
- Daily live marking, feedback and assessment for learning.
- Regular formative, low-stakes assessments e.g. quizzes and recap challenges
- Termly pupil progress meetings to monitor progress, analyse data and create learning action plans identifying underperforming groups and what support can be provided.
Useful Information
