Science
At Birstwith Primary School we have created a bespoke and effective science curriculum that follows The National Curriculum for science for children in years 1-6, (with objectives assigned to individual year groups), and use Development Matters to inform our Early Years Framework for Reception aged children to 'Understand the World' around them, using resources from the Grammasuarus Scheme of work.
Our curriculum is systematic and our teaching builds on what children already know through clear explanations, modelling and analogies to represent abstract concepts in an age-appropriate way. Scientific vocabulary is used consistently and children are actively encouraged to ask questions and develop their working scientifically skills.
We aim to teach children how science plays a vital role in our past, present and future. Our curriculum features scientists and engineers that have made a significant contribution to science and the impact this has on our everyday lives. We encourage children to be aspirational and explore different aspects of science in future careers knowing that science is crucial for our economic, environmental and social development.
Science Curriculum
We are a small school with mixed-age classes that span Reception to Year 6, and our science curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that, whatever the age of the child, our broad and balanced cirriculum, will engage and excite them. Children build their knowledge progressively, starting in the Early Years Foundation Stage. As children progress through school, they often meet a scientific concept again, at a higher level, and this is a valuable opportunity to revisit prior learning, in a spiralling curriculum of knowledge, which lends itself naturally to revisits.
Working Scientifically
The working scientifically aspect of the NC is built into each unit of learning, and progression is carefully mapped. Scientific enquiries are planned to develop pupils’ skills in working scientifically and the five enquiry types, whilst links between science with other curriculum areas establish deeper understanding and stronger neural pathways, to help children to remember more of what they learn. Our curriculum encourages lots of practical work with opportunities to: use measuring equipment; collect & use data through investigations; use maths skills to analyse and explain data with a range of graphs and charts, and English skills to explain and discuss.
click here to read our Science Policy