St John's Primary School
Science at St John’s
Through high-quality science teaching, we aim to help our pupils understand how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society. Moreover, we aim to prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
INTENT
1. SELF - At St John’s, we increase the scientific capital of all pupils so that they feel that science is an option
for their future through direct learning experiences and enquiries.
2. OTHERS - We are proactive in exposing our pupils to people and companies in our local scientific
community and teach them about the contributions of scientists from all over the world and throughout
the ages.
3. WIDER WORLD - Pupils at St John’s are taught that science is a subject with truly global reach. Our aim
We believe that good science teaching should be:
- based on a secure knowledge of the subject
- engaging and creative
- a mixture of practical and written work
- have a strong real-life context
- inspired by the questions that children have
- be challenging
These principles of good science teaching were devised by the staff and were informed by the children of St John’s school, with help from the School Council.
IMPLEMENTATION
Planning
At Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers plan science lessons using the National Curriculum (2014).
• All science lessons have focussed learning objectives, clear differentiation and success criteria to
ensure that pupils make at least good progress.
• ‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout the areas of learning in key stage 1 and 2; this
focuses on the key aspects of scientific enquiry which enable pupils to investigate and answer
scientific questions.
• Areas of learning within key stage 1 and 2 ensure that statutory requirements are being covered
through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics (teachers may also refer to the
non-statutory guidance which provide additional support).
• The medium term Key Stage Plans map out the topics to be covered over the 2 year cycle in Key
Stage 1 and a 4 year cycle in Key Stage 2.
• The short term plans are completed by all teachers and outline when lessons will be delivered.
Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and is taught every week.
Teaching
At St John’s School, teachers plan and deliver high-quality and engaging science lessons incorporating a range of teaching and learning styles. Teachers will provide opportunities for pupils to:
- Learn about science, where possible, through first-hand practical experiences;
- Develop their research skills through the appropriate use of secondary sources;
- Work collaboratively in pairs, groups and/or individually;
- Plan and carry out investigations with an increasing systematic approach as they progress through the school;
- Develop their questioning, predicting, observing, measuring and interpreting skills;
- Record their work in a variety of ways e.g. writing, diagrams, graphs, tables;
- Read and spell scientific vocabulary appropriate for their age.
- Be motivated and inspired by engaging and interactive science displays which include key vocabulary and relevant questions.
- Learn about science using the outdoor learning environment.
- Develop their Working Scientifically skills to enable them to ask their own questions about the world they live in; design investigations to find the answers and evaluate the limitations of their work.
- Be involved in a science themed week once a year where pupil’s work for the whole week will be based around real-world scientific context (supported by practical activities and visitors).
- Increase their scientific capital. Science capital can be defined as the sum of all the science-related knowledge, attitudes, experiences and resources that an individual builds up through their life.
PSQM Gilt Award
We are delighted that St John’s has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Gilt. This is the next level to the award we previously held and it recognises our continued commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. The assessor noted that the profile and quality of science at St John’s was of a high standard and that “children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as securing scientific understanding and skills. Teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.” A big thank you to all staff for the continued dedication and enthusiasm. We endeavour to build on this success and look forward to collaborating with all families and the wider community on all things science in the future.
Summer 2020
Despite some very challenging times for everyone in recent months, science thinking has not stopped! It has been absolutely brilliant to see so many of you continuing science thinking at home, getting your families involved and making new discoveries and most importantly asking questions and wondering about the world around you. Thank you for sharing your photos. Some have been topics you have learnt with us and some your own scientific thinking – all fantastic. The children that have been in school have also been following the home learning science and we have captured some of their work too.
Science
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Science curriculum cycles EYFS-KS1-KS2.pdf |
St John's Primary School
Science at St John’s
Through high-quality science teaching, we aim to help our pupils understand how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society. Moreover, we aim to prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
INTENT
1. SELF - At St John’s, we increase the scientific capital of all pupils so that they feel that science is an option
for their future through direct learning experiences and enquiries.
2. OTHERS - We are proactive in exposing our pupils to people and companies in our local scientific
community and teach them about the contributions of scientists from all over the world and throughout
the ages.
3. WIDER WORLD - Pupils at St John’s are taught that science is a subject with truly global reach. Our aim
We believe that good science teaching should be:
- based on a secure knowledge of the subject
- engaging and creative
- a mixture of practical and written work
- have a strong real-life context
- inspired by the questions that children have
- be challenging
These principles of good science teaching were devised by the staff and were informed by the children of St John’s school, with help from the School Council.
IMPLEMENTATION
Planning
At Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers plan science lessons using the National Curriculum (2014).
• All science lessons have focussed learning objectives, clear differentiation and success criteria to
ensure that pupils make at least good progress.
• ‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout the areas of learning in key stage 1 and 2; this
focuses on the key aspects of scientific enquiry which enable pupils to investigate and answer
scientific questions.
• Areas of learning within key stage 1 and 2 ensure that statutory requirements are being covered
through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics (teachers may also refer to the
non-statutory guidance which provide additional support).
• The medium term Key Stage Plans map out the topics to be covered over the 2 year cycle in Key
Stage 1 and a 4 year cycle in Key Stage 2.
• The short term plans are completed by all teachers and outline when lessons will be delivered.
Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and is taught every week.
Teaching
At St John’s School, teachers plan and deliver high-quality and engaging science lessons incorporating a range of teaching and learning styles. Teachers will provide opportunities for pupils to:
- Learn about science, where possible, through first-hand practical experiences;
- Develop their research skills through the appropriate use of secondary sources;
- Work collaboratively in pairs, groups and/or individually;
- Plan and carry out investigations with an increasing systematic approach as they progress through the school;
- Develop their questioning, predicting, observing, measuring and interpreting skills;
- Record their work in a variety of ways e.g. writing, diagrams, graphs, tables;
- Read and spell scientific vocabulary appropriate for their age.
- Be motivated and inspired by engaging and interactive science displays which include key vocabulary and relevant questions.
- Learn about science using the outdoor learning environment.
- Develop their Working Scientifically skills to enable them to ask their own questions about the world they live in; design investigations to find the answers and evaluate the limitations of their work.
- Be involved in a science themed week once a year where pupil’s work for the whole week will be based around real-world scientific context (supported by practical activities and visitors).
- Increase their scientific capital. Science capital can be defined as the sum of all the science-related knowledge, attitudes, experiences and resources that an individual builds up through their life.
PSQM Gilt Award
We are delighted that St John’s has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Gilt. This is the next level to the award we previously held and it recognises our continued commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. The assessor noted that the profile and quality of science at St John’s was of a high standard and that “children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as securing scientific understanding and skills. Teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.” A big thank you to all staff for the continued dedication and enthusiasm. We endeavour to build on this success and look forward to collaborating with all families and the wider community on all things science in the future.
Summer 2020
Despite some very challenging times for everyone in recent months, science thinking has not stopped! It has been absolutely brilliant to see so many of you continuing science thinking at home, getting your families involved and making new discoveries and most importantly asking questions and wondering about the world around you. Thank you for sharing your photos. Some have been topics you have learnt with us and some your own scientific thinking – all fantastic. The children that have been in school have also been following the home learning science and we have captured some of their work too.
Science
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Science curriculum cycles EYFS-KS1-KS2.pdf |
St John's Primary School
Science at St John’s
Through high-quality science teaching, we aim to help our pupils understand how major scientific ideas have played a vital role in society. Moreover, we aim to prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
INTENT
1. SELF - At St John’s, we increase the scientific capital of all pupils so that they feel that science is an option
for their future through direct learning experiences and enquiries.
2. OTHERS - We are proactive in exposing our pupils to people and companies in our local scientific
community and teach them about the contributions of scientists from all over the world and throughout
the ages.
3. WIDER WORLD - Pupils at St John’s are taught that science is a subject with truly global reach. Our aim
We believe that good science teaching should be:
- based on a secure knowledge of the subject
- engaging and creative
- a mixture of practical and written work
- have a strong real-life context
- inspired by the questions that children have
- be challenging
These principles of good science teaching were devised by the staff and were informed by the children of St John’s school, with help from the School Council.
IMPLEMENTATION
Planning
At Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers plan science lessons using the National Curriculum (2014).
• All science lessons have focussed learning objectives, clear differentiation and success criteria to
ensure that pupils make at least good progress.
• ‘Working scientifically’ is embedded throughout the areas of learning in key stage 1 and 2; this
focuses on the key aspects of scientific enquiry which enable pupils to investigate and answer
scientific questions.
• Areas of learning within key stage 1 and 2 ensure that statutory requirements are being covered
through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics (teachers may also refer to the
non-statutory guidance which provide additional support).
• The medium term Key Stage Plans map out the topics to be covered over the 2 year cycle in Key
Stage 1 and a 4 year cycle in Key Stage 2.
• The short term plans are completed by all teachers and outline when lessons will be delivered.
Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and is taught every week.
Teaching
At St John’s School, teachers plan and deliver high-quality and engaging science lessons incorporating a range of teaching and learning styles. Teachers will provide opportunities for pupils to:
- Learn about science, where possible, through first-hand practical experiences;
- Develop their research skills through the appropriate use of secondary sources;
- Work collaboratively in pairs, groups and/or individually;
- Plan and carry out investigations with an increasing systematic approach as they progress through the school;
- Develop their questioning, predicting, observing, measuring and interpreting skills;
- Record their work in a variety of ways e.g. writing, diagrams, graphs, tables;
- Read and spell scientific vocabulary appropriate for their age.
- Be motivated and inspired by engaging and interactive science displays which include key vocabulary and relevant questions.
- Learn about science using the outdoor learning environment.
- Develop their Working Scientifically skills to enable them to ask their own questions about the world they live in; design investigations to find the answers and evaluate the limitations of their work.
- Be involved in a science themed week once a year where pupil’s work for the whole week will be based around real-world scientific context (supported by practical activities and visitors).
- Increase their scientific capital. Science capital can be defined as the sum of all the science-related knowledge, attitudes, experiences and resources that an individual builds up through their life.
PSQM Gilt Award
We are delighted that St John’s has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Gilt. This is the next level to the award we previously held and it recognises our continued commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. The assessor noted that the profile and quality of science at St John’s was of a high standard and that “children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as securing scientific understanding and skills. Teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.” A big thank you to all staff for the continued dedication and enthusiasm. We endeavour to build on this success and look forward to collaborating with all families and the wider community on all things science in the future.
Summer 2020
Despite some very challenging times for everyone in recent months, science thinking has not stopped! It has been absolutely brilliant to see so many of you continuing science thinking at home, getting your families involved and making new discoveries and most importantly asking questions and wondering about the world around you. Thank you for sharing your photos. Some have been topics you have learnt with us and some your own scientific thinking – all fantastic. The children that have been in school have also been following the home learning science and we have captured some of their work too.
Science
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Science curriculum cycles EYFS-KS1-KS2.pdf |