Science

Intent

At Ewyas Harold, science is an integral part of our curriculum. We have developed our progression to include a range of topics that inspire children. We believe this will encourage our children to question scientific hypotheses and nurture their natural curiosity about the world around them. We actively encourage children to consider the role of science in modern life; including the effects of pollution on the environment, interdependence and fair trade to name a few.

Article 29

Your education should help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.

Elements of science are additionally taught through a range of activities, for example reading for meaning; weekly spelling tests; biographical texts based on the lives of renowned scientists; data recording and analysis in maths to name a few. We also have an eco-club to enable children to learn about issues affecting the environment.

Implementation

Article 28

You have the right to a good quality education. You should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level you can.

We follow an enquiry-based approach to the teaching and learning of science, planning regular practical science investigations, to engage and enthuse pupils and to develop the acquisition of scientific enquiry skills. We follow the National Curriculum programmes of study in Key Stages 1 and 2, using a range of resources from different schemes of work to ensure full coverage.

Pupils develop scientific skills in chemistry, biology and physics and apply these to concepts within practical activities carried out in class. Such knowledge will be taken forward with them into secondary school and beyond. Pupils develop a clear understanding of what it means to work scientifically, analyse data recorded during practical experiences/experiments and communicate this through book work, tables, bar charts, line graphs and technology.

Teachers plan carefully to ensure that all pupils are engaged and have an opportunity to apply the scientific knowledge gained within the current topic. All lessons provide additional challenges for greater depth and understanding.

Key scientific vocabulary relating to the children’s topic is embedded into planning and lessons and children are actively encouraged to use them in their spoken language and spell them correctly in their written work.  This vocabulary has been carefully selected and allows for progression across the school.

We are proud that at Ewyas Harold and we strive for pupils to have a shared passion and enjoyment for science. Across the course of the year, each class will have the option to access to a workshop/educational visit in order to increase their understanding of science all around them and to inspire them in understanding possible career choices within science and engineering.

Impact

Progress and attainment are monitored using Insight Tracking, following the completion of each unit of study in order that next steps can be carefully adapted and planned to meet the needs of all children.