Science

at Sawley Junior School

Intent

What do we want SJS children to learn?

Sawley Junior School’s Science curriculum aims to inspire all children to succeed and recognise the importance of Science in daily life. Science will provide opportunities for children to develop a sense of excitement and natural curiosity whilst gaining confidence in developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry.

At Sawley Junior School we believe that a fun, practical and engaging curriculum will provide opportunities for children to develop and use a range of skills including:

• Asking questions and carrying out fair and comparative tests.
• Observations and measuring changes.
• Identifying, classifying, recording and presenting data.
• Drawing conclusions, noticing patterns and presenting findings.
• Using scientific evidence from secondary sources of information.

The national curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. 
• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
• Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. 

When planning for the science curriculum, we intend for children to have the opportunity, wherever possible, to learn through varied systematic investigations, leading to them being equipped for life to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them. As children progress through the year groups, scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic. These topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school.

As working scientifically skills are built on, as well as scientific knowledge and vocabulary, our children will develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions.

Implementation

How do we achieve our Intent?

Science at Sawley Junior School is taught consistently in standalone lessons, once a week for up to two hours, but is discretely taught in many different contexts throughout areas of the curriculum. For example, through our learning challenge and guided read sessions. The curriculum is mapped out to ensure children have the opportunity to learn, practise and refine new scientific skills, as well as acquiring key scientific knowledge. Linked knowledge organisers enable children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit. Science teaching at Sawley Junior School involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all children’s needs. At Sawley Junior School, teachers create a positive attitude to Science learning within their classrooms. Teachers plan to suit children’s interests, current events and their own teaching styles. Activities within Science are supplemented by units that have been developed by Developing Experts and Sigma Science. Activities planned are based on a progression to deepen knowledge and understanding.

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Science involves:

• A clear, comprehensive scheme of work, in line with the national curriculum.
• Science being planned and taught in a coherent order and progressive way in order to build upon learning and skills development throughout children’s time at school.  
• Planning for practical investigative opportunities in Science.
• Children having access to key language in order to apply scientific vocabulary to their written work.

• The encouragement of questioning to create enquiry-based learners with children being given the opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers.
• Working scientifically skills being embedded into all Science lessons.
• Teachers modelling the use of scientific equipment.
• Children having access to and experimenting with a range of scientific resources.
• Reflecting on previous learning and making cross curricular links wherever possible.
• Through enrichment, such as ‘Practical Science Day’ or ‘Science Week’.

All staff are supported by the Senior Leadership team and the Science Subject Leader. In addition, Willows Academy Trust subject leaders hold cluster meetings half-termly working together to meet the aims and vision of the Trust.