Intention

Our school mission statement upholds that Christ is at the heart of what we teach and everything we do.  We want our pupils to be curious about the world in which they live and strive to make it a better place.  Science plays a fundamental part in this as the children question the ever-changing world around them and become conscientious and independent scientific learners.  Our curriculum encourages high expectations, a love of Science and builds on children’s prior learning.  They develop skills, knowledge and vocabulary which supports them to think scientifically and to gain an understanding of scientific processes. 

Children use a range of transferable Science skills including observing, planning, investigating and problem solving.   We use enrichment activities such as Science Week to ensure that core Science skills are taught alongside modern scientific issues such as climate change and reinforcing the Catholic mission of Laudato Si.   Science utilises cross-curricular skills taught in other subjects such as Reading, Writing and Maths, as Science is fundamental to other subjects and other subjects are fundamental to Science.

Implementation

At St Thomas’, our children are encouraged to achieve their potential and progress with confidence to the next phase of their scientific education through our curriculum. 

• A progressive approach to teaching ensures that lessons build on prior learning so by the time children leave KS2, they have a more sophisticated understanding of working scientifically; interwoven through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as global climate issues
• Lessons promote a sense of intrigue of the world around them through the five types of enquiry (observing over time; identifying, classifying and grouping; pattern seeking; comparative and fair testing; and problem solving). We encourage pupils to lead the learning and make independent discoveries through safe scientific enquiry.
• The Science team have received specialist CPD training which drives quality first teaching and results in children embarking on exciting and scientific learning journeys. 
• Children know and are able to use the processes of collecting, presenting (written work, observational drawings and scientific diagrams) and analysing their findings (interpreting keys, bar charts and tables)  
• Children can read, recognise and make sense of Science vocabulary, enabling them to articulate concepts clearly and precisely.
• Children develop their Literacy skills in Science through the use of high-quality texts which link closely to the National Curriculum outcomes as well as our Science strands.
• We are developing the use of peer teaching by children, where children are taught specific Science themes and then disseminate this to their peers in class, supporting their speaking and computing skills.

Impact

Our pupils leave our school as confident scientists; conscientious in their questioning and dynamic thinkers. Children know what Science is and the power it has to help us find the truth about our ever-changing planet. Pupils are motivated in Science lessons and demonstrate a sound understanding of concepts. Our topics are current, relevant and stimulate pupils to consider the world in which they live, as well as their impact on the wider environment around them.