St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

SCIENCE

Vision 

We aim to develop the knowledge; skills and attributes children need to manage their lives, now and in the future. These skills and attributes help pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. At St Nicholas Catholic Primary School, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is an embedded part of our broad and balanced curriculum. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is at the heart of our school ethos and links closely to our Christian values. When taught well, PSHE education helps pupils to achieve their academic potential, and leave school equipped with skills they will need throughout later life.

Intent 

At St Nicholas we are committed to providing a curriculum for all where every child grows: 

• Academically 
• Socially 
• Morally 
• In aspiration 
• To be prepared for the next phase in their academic journey and be spiritually nourished. 

To achieve excellence in all that they do in the knowledge that we love one another as God loves you. 

Implementation 

The curriculum is led and overseen by the science curriculum leaders, who will regularly monitor, evaluate and review science teaching and learning, celebrating and sharing good practice. Formative assessments will be integrated into every day science teaching to ensure teachers have an in depth knowledge of the children’s learning and inform their next steps.

The National Curriculum 2014 and the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework 2017 provide the basis for our science curriculum, which is then tailored to meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school.  

Teachers will plan science using the newly developed progression of skills document which will allow children to build upon prior knowledge and understanding. This document will also outline the Working Scientifically skills, which teachers will use to plan enquiry-based lessons which will support children’s journeys to become independent and resilient learners.

The teaching, learning and sequencing of science will follow a blocked curriculum approach which has been implemented to ensure coverage and progression in all subject areas. 

Knowledge organisers will be developed and introduced for teachers and pupils to use for each topic for reference and assessment purposes. This will map out the knowledge, vocabulary and skills needed to master the concepts as well as including suggestions for links to outdoor learning and enquiry-based sessions.

Impact 

• Children will become resilient, independent and curious scientists who ask questions and find things out for themselves.  
• Science will be a high profile subject throughout the school. 
• Children will be enthusiastic and motivated scientific learners. 
• The outdoor classroom will be utilised regularly throughout science lessons. 
• Parents and the wider community will support science learning through trips and visits on regular basis.  

Knowledge Organisers