Science

We aim, at Thurlbear Primary School, to provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum which will promote the moral, spiritual, cultural, mental and physical development of our pupils, thus enabling them to lead happy and useful lives, both now and in the future.  Our School Vision is to create an irresistible Church School, creating learning experiences which lead to great life achievements. 

As part of this overarching vision, we provide an engaging science curriculum built on high expectations for children enabling them to master accurate scientific knowledge and skills. 

Intent: “Know the Way”

It is our intention to provide a high quality science education that provides children with the foundations they need to recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life.  As one of the core subjects, we give the teaching of science the prominence it requires.  We aim to equip pupils with a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding and to encourage children to be curious about the world around them throughout their time at Thurlbear Primary School.

Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group.  We ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built-on and developed throughout children’s time at the school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, investigating questions and explaining concepts. 

We aim to inspire children to achieve a high level of success in science and to have high aspirations for their achievement and engagement in the subject at secondary level and beyond.  We intend to foster a life-long confidence and curiosity about investigating the world around them.

Implementation: “Show the Way”

At Thurlbear Primary school we use ‘Plymouth Science’ scheme of work to deliver an engaging and rigorous Science curriculum.  Following this scheme and  individualising it for the needs of specific classes provides full coverage of the new National Curriculum, following the programmes of study for each year group and providing clear progression. 

Our science curriculum requires learners to ask questions about the world around them and investigate the answers.  They do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments.  They use the five types of enquiry: comparative testing, observation over time, grouping and classifying, noticing patterns and research to investigate the different disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics as part of the science curriculum.  Working scientifically skills are incorporated throughout the programme of study and developed alongside the scientific knowledge. 

Our science lessons make use of a range of teaching strategies including making clear links to high quality literary texts that support the science curriculum so that where possible children can learn the language of science through stories and other texts.  Demonstration and modelling are used to aid explanation and a range of appropriate practical activities are included that have clear purpose and help to extend and develop children’s scientific knowledge and skills.  Possible misconceptions that children may hold are challenged through clear explanation based on excellent teacher knowledge.  Throughout our science curriculum children are given the opportunity to consider ways in which science links to a variety of current careers.  Pupils also have an opportunity to learn about significant individuals that have made a contribution towards scientific thinking.

Each of the units of science work is designed to clearly build on children’s previous knowledge and the use of scientific vocabulary is integral and progressive within our curriculum.  Children add to concept maps to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained through their learning and there are opportunities within the scheme of work to assess disciplinary knowledge and monitor the children’s progress.   Formative assessment is used to address misconceptions or gaps in learning in order to create secure scientific foundations.

Impact: “Grow the Way”

The successful approach to the teaching of science at Thurlbear Primary School will result in a fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education.

Children at Thurlbear Primary school should:

·         Demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field.

  • Retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
  • Be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
  • Be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using rich language linked to science.
  • Work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment while demonstrating a high command of the disciplinary skills required to work scientifically.
  • Achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.

Coming Soon…