Purpose of study

A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.

Aims

The school science curriculum 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.
• Can ask further questions based on what they have been learning and encourage their natural curiosity.

Organisation

• Science is mostly taught as a discreet subject; however cross curricular links are made wherever possible. Teachers have freedom to place their Science units anywhere over the school year to facilitate these cross curricular links.
• Science units follow the National Curriculum to ensure coverage across all year groups and allow children to revisit topics so that they can study them in greater detail and build upon their previous learning. Whilst units of work have the same title in different year groups, e.g. Animals including Humans, the knowledge table and knowledge organisers indicate the specific learning in each unit.   
• Year groups have a balance of biology, chemistry and physics.
• Children are given the opportunity to investigate in a range of ways including pattern seeking, comparative and fair testing, research using secondary sources, observation over time and identifying, classifying and grouping.

For more information, including the skills, knowledge and areas of study for KS1 and KS2, please see our school's curriculum overview below: