Science

  • Mrs Rebecca Parkinson

    Science Subject Leader

  • Mrs Anthea Ray

    Science Link Governor

At Newchurch Primary School it is our intention that every child develops a genuine passion for science in order to harness their natural excitement and curiosity and, in turn, inspires them to pursue scientific enquiry. We strive to ensure each child is excited by scientific ideas and wants to learn to explain and analyse concepts, make predictions and solve problems. We encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The Science curriculum promotes a healthy curiosity in children about the world around them.

Throughout the programmes of study of the National Curriculum, the children will acquire and develop the key substantive and disciplinary knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills.

Making use of the Plymouth Scheme of Work as a foundation and with some elements of Cornerstones’ ‘Investigate This’, we ensure that the ‘Working Scientifically’ skills are built on each year. From the early years, children learn to:

  •          Record their data and observations
  •          Plan enquiries
  •          Observe and measure
  •          Make predictions
  •          Interpret and draw conclusions
  •          Evaluate
  •          Ask questions

Children learn to apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting experiments, justifying their views and explaining concepts confidently.  We actively encourage children to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

By the end of Key Stage 2 we aim that children will be able to:

  • Plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
  • Take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
  • Record data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs

Our Science curriculum offers opportunities for all children to:

  • 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
  • Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.

Our curriculum is well structured and sequenced to enable knowledge and skills to be revisited throughout the school. Prior learning, future learning and key vocabulary are clearly identified within the Science Progression Overview document.