Wolsey House Science Day which launched British Science Week

Year 5's visit to the new Space Park on its Opening Day

Intent - we are creating Scientists by...

Science at Wolsey House Primary school is coherently planned and sequenced to ensure all pupils receive a well-balanced, broad and ambitious curriculum. The curriculum has been designed and developed to be fully inclusive for all pupils with: special educational needs and /or disabilities, English as an additional language and all children who may face additional challenges.

Our science curriculum gives our children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.

At Wolsey House we encourage the children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school by fostering their curiosity. We give the children the opportunity to ask questions, investigate practically and explain concepts.

We give our children the opportunity to develop their investigative skills, and teach them how to use these through practical science both inside and outside the classroom. Effective use is made of resources such as our forest area and the allotment.

Each year group builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous one and gives opportunities to practise and embed them.

Implementation - this is how we teach Science

Science is taught in themes through a “Big question”. This strategy enables the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge. Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers.

Children are involved in planning by including the knowledge they already have and their questions. Teachers create engaging lessons, involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Sticky words are introduced at the beginning of each “Big question” and revisited regularly to ensure that they are embedded and become part of the children’s vocabulary.

Children’s learning and skill development is progressive and built on from the previous academic year. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.

To ensure that scientific skills are being developed throughout the children’s learning journey, new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the science programme of study. Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers plan opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts.

Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class. Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science.

Science is given a high profile, for example, through regular events such as Science Week or project days. These activities give pupils the opportunity to access a broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. We aim to involve families and the wider community often.

Impact - this is what they have learnt - the knowledge and skills developed in Science

At Wolsey House, our big question approach towards science results in a fun, engaging and high quality education. Children are equipped with the foundations, skills and knowledge for understanding the world. The children’s engagement with the local environment ensures that they acquire the skills and knowledge through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, children gain an understanding that science is vital to the world’s future prosperity. The children learn from positive role models through working with professionals within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. Children at Wolsey House thoroughly enjoy science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding and prepares children to take up a career in Science.