Science Overview

At Throckley Primary School, we know that a high-quality science education is the key to understanding the wider world through the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Thanks to science, our lives change for the better every day. Our children are taught to use science to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave and analyse causes- essential skills if they are to discover truth within an age of information. Science at Throckley allows children simultaneously to interpret their present and to create their own future. In this way, the science curriculum not only enables but informs our curriculum drivers:

-Understanding our place in the world

Science has changed lives throughout human history and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. This ensures children comprehend entirely the way all of our lives are interconnected and how we can exist and thrive on this planet.

-Aspiring to achieve

Science is vital to the world’s prosperity; at Throckley, we guarantee our children a brighter future. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils recognise the power of rational explanation and demand more of their lives with the tools to make dreams become reality.

-Broadening horizons

Science compels our children to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. By truly appreciating the nature of our existence, we can look to surpass what once seemed to be boundaries. Every enquiry, investigation, experiment and ‘WOW moment’ sows the seeds for ambition in the next generation.

Throughout their work in science, children encounter key concepts as they appreciate the work of significant people -pioneering scientists, past and present- and learn their rich stories. By putting the stories of these figures into context, we bring to life the sense of curiosity, exploration and discovery that drove them and, in turn, evoke these ambitions in our children. By the very nature of their learning and working scientifically, children explore:

-Belonging

Children and staff discover alongside each other in a respectful atmosphere where all questioning is encouraged, and all ideas are promoted and analysed. Science is cross-curricular and values all learning as beneficial to society, nationally and internationally.

-Choice

Children ask and answer their own questions of the natural world, appreciating the importance of learning via experience. They realise that information cannot be taken at face value and that it is up to them to query validity. Science holds their world to account.

-Influence

Children gain responsibility when deciding what to do with the knowledge they acquire and the discoveries they make. Their decisions will be guided by the work of those in the past who worked in societies often opposed to their learning or wanted to control it. This power is at the heart of the morality of science.

The curriculum at Throckley aims to found progress throughout a child’s school career by developing a secure understanding of each key block of knowledge and concepts at the relevant stage. Insecure, superficial understanding prevents genuine progression: pupils may struggle at key stage transitions, amass damaging misconceptions, or have significant difficulties in understanding higher-order content.

The social and economic implications of science are taught through the rich stories of significant people within the science curriculum, but also within the wider school curriculum: history, PSHE, etc. The Throckley OWLs (Our Wonderful Learners) inculcate positive learning behaviours and support the children in developing the skills necessary for success in the wider world.

Class teachers plan units of lessons according to the progression of knowledge and skills documents for science. These are structured to ensure that each new skill and concept is introduced at the exact point necessary to build precisely on children’s prior learning and provide the foundation for that which is to come. Activities in class thus develop the relevant skill and support the instruction and application of new knowledge. Practical tasks are carefully considered to ensure that they promote the children’s best work; are relevant to the unit studied; and make the learning journey certain.

Aims

We follow the National Curriculum for science, which aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the 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 knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.