We follow an exciting and ambitious curriculum from Reception to Year 6. Each topic has a question to focus the learning, which then has a set of steps towards a goal. The children's learning is also celebrated with specific outcomes at the end of each topic. For example, we might create exhibitions, perform plays or showcase work completed. Teachers plan for cross curricular opportunities in English and Maths wherever possible. The year is peppered with special days. These days provide pupils with an opportunity to examine a specific area in more detail, providing independent thinking and challenge.

Our Subject Leads work in teams so that they can share ideas and prepare and plan together for different subjects. Below is information for each group of subjects. For each of the subjects, we have developed our intent, implementation and impact statements to align with National Curriculum aims and with our school vision and aims.  In that way, the curriculum on offer to our Saint John's pupils is specific and relevant to each of them, ensuring that we grow their learning from their diverse roots, challenging them to reach up and reach out and preparing them for their lives in our community and beyond.

National Curriculum Aims

The 2014 National Curriculum for Science 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 skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. We understand that it is important for lessons to have a skills-based focus, and that the knowledge can be taught through this.

Intent

At Saint John’s, we encourage children to be inquisitive so that they can flourish throughout their time at the school and beyond. Through an enquiry-rich curriculum that fosters curiosity about our universe, children learn to ask and explore their own questions. During their journey, they are challenged and supported within a caring community, in partnership with our families so that they can develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the world around them. We believe Science learning encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes; these lead to the build-up of a strong cultural capital for pupils to draw upon enabling them to be a scientifically-literate citizen of the 21st century. 

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. The key knowledge identified by each year group is informed by the National Curriculum and builds towards identified phase ‘end points’ in accordance with National Curriculum expectations. Key skills are also mapped for each year group and are progressive throughout the school. These ensure systematic progression to identified skills end points which are in accordance with the Working Scientifically skills expectations of the national curriculum. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children are able to acquire key scientific knowledge through practical experiences; using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently. 

The school’s approach to Science takes account of the school’s own context, ensuring access to people with specialist expertise and places of scientific interest as part of the school’s commitment to learning outside the classroom. Cross-curricular opportunities are also identified and used to ensure contextual relevance. Children are encouraged to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings and a love of Science is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied science curriculum.

Implementation 

Teachers create a positive attitude to Science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Science involves the following:

●  Existing knowledge checked at the beginning of each topic.

●Through our planning, we involve problem-solving opportunities that allow children to apply their knowledge, and find out answers for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess pupils regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all pupils keep up. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.

● We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.

● Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.

● Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts.

●Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class.

● Regular events, such as Science Days and Science Week, allow all pupils to come off timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. These events often involve families and the wider community.

●  At the end of each topic, key knowledge is reviewed by the children and checked by the teacher and consolidated as necessary.

Impact 

The successful approach at Saint John’s results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our engagement with the outside environment and Forest School ensures that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the Science curriculum. 

Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that Science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our connection with the STEM association. They learn from and work with professionals, ensuring access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving. Children at Saint John’s overwhelmingly enjoy Science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding. This exposure allows all children to develop a strong science capital. Children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving.