Science

“The Science of today is the technology of tomorrow,” - Edward Teller

INTENT

At Millbrook Combined School, we strive to empower a generation of curious, enthusiastic and revolutionary thinkers. Our learners will ask questions to develop their critical and logical thinking skills, enabling them to make sense of the ever-changing world around them and to see the ‘bigger picture’. Our children will operate as Scientists by working systematically to build on their existing knowledge and develop new skills to solve problems, sparking awe and wonder.  Our science curriculum offers a broad range of experiences designed to provide pupils with a progression of scientific understanding, skills and knowledge. Importance is placed on first-hand experiences with an expectation that teachers will access the wide range of resources available as well as regular use of habitats across the school grounds and local areas.  Understanding of key ideas in science is built on across the key stages and a progression of skills allows pupils to move from early observations and exploration, to considered questioning and drawing out of ideas.

IMPLEMENTATION

To meet the aims of the National curriculum for science and in response to the Ofsted research review: science, Our curriculum is organised into the following key strands:

• Scientific knowledge and understanding of:
  • biology: living organisms and vital processes;
  • chemistry: matter and its properties;
  • physics: how the world we live in ‘works’.
• Working scientifically: processes and methods of science to answer questions about the world around us.
• Science in action: uses and implications of science in the past, present and for the future.

Our science curriculum revisits essential knowledge and skills with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. A range of engaging recall activities promotes frequent pupil reflection on prior learning, ensuring new learning is approached with confidence.  Cross-curricular links are included throughout each unit, allowing pupils to make connections and apply their science skills to other areas of learning. Each unit is based on one of the key science disciplines: biology, chemistry and physics. The National curriculum content has been grouped into six key areas of science to show progression throughout the school: Plants. Animals, including humans. Living things and habitats. Materials. Energy. Forces, Earth and space. Pupils explore knowledge and conceptual understanding through engaging activities and an introduction to relevant, specialist vocabulary. As suggested in Ofsted research review: science (April 2021), the Working scientifically skills are integrated with conceptual understanding rather than taught discretely to provide frequent but relevant opportunities for developing scientific enquiry skills. Lessons provide practical activities that aid in the progression of individual skills and provide opportunities for full investigations.

IMPACT

Pupils should leave school equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in science at Key stage 3. They will have the necessary tools to confidently and meaningfully question and explore the world around them and critically and analytically experience and observe phenomena. Pupils will understand the significance and impact of science on society. The expected impact of our science curriculum is that pupils will:

• Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the biology topics in the National curriculum: Plants; Animals, including humans; Living things and their habitats; and Evolution and inheritance.
• Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the chemistry topics in the National curriculum: Everyday materials; Uses of everyday materials; Properties and changes of materials; States of matter; and Rocks.
• Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the physics topics in the National curriculum: Seasonal changes; Forces and magnets; Sound; Light; Electricity; and Earth and space.
• Evaluate and identify the methods that ‘real world’ scientists use to develop and answer scientific questions.
• Identify and use equipment effectively to accurately gather, measure and record data.
• Be able to display and convey data in a variety of ways, including graphs.
• Analyse data to identify, classify, group and find patterns.
• Use evidence to formulate explanations and conclusions.
• Demonstrate scientific literacy through presenting concepts and communicating ideas using scientific vocabulary.
• Understand the importance of resilience and a growth mindset, particularly in reference to scientific enquiry.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for science.