Buswells Lodge Science Curriculum Statement

        Intent, Implementation and Impact

At Buswells Lodge, we have taken the Snap Science programme and tailored it to meet the individual needs of our pupils. As a result, we have created an adaptive, progressive and thorough curriculum, which is stimulating, inspiring and challenging.

Intent:

Our science curriculum is broad, balanced and inclusive to meet the needs of every child to ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills. We create an environment which encourages our children to be curious about natural phenomena whilst becoming excited by the process of understanding the world around them. Pupils are encouraged to work scientifically and conduct simple tests and experiments whilst using equipment to gather and record their data. At Buswells Lodge, science is taught as a separate and discrete subject. From Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6, key scientific vocabulary and concepts are introduced, developed and enriched.

We ensure thorough and comprehensive coverage of the National Curriculum with a focus on enquiry, varied investigation, questioning and subsequent explanation of scientific phenomena through discussion.

In Early Years, science is a key part of the specific area ‘Understanding of the World’ and provides important contexts for learning. It is also integral to the development of the unique child and provides effective learning opportunities for ‘creating and thinking critically’ and ‘active learning’. Alongside specific scientific knowledge and vocabulary, children develop the concept of ‘working scientifically’ appropriate to their developmental stage.

In Key Stage 1 and 2, our approach to science teaching enables children to become more independent, systematic and precise in their scientific enquires, knowledge and explanations.

This, in combination with our annual British Science Day, encourages children to develop a deep and lasting love for science.

Implementation:

We use the Collins Snap Science programme to structure our science lessons. The lesson structure ensures all children make at least good progress from their original starting points through rigorous, inspirational teaching and learning.

Each science lesson begins with an explore activity which enables teachers to:

A) Conduct formative assessment: teachers and children can quickly assess retention and prior knowledge.

B) Promote rapid progression within lessons: serving as a guide to which adapted tasks the children should attempt.

British Values are present throughout our Science curriculum and are developed in numerous ways, such as:

• Developing pupils’ self-knowledge through variation, genetics and inheritance;
• Encouraging children to accept responsibility for their own behaviour through human impact on the environment, particularly global warming;
• Evaluating the importance of recycling and the use of alternative fuels; and
• Debating the use of science in the legal system (animal testing).

Impact

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to an individual child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. All children will understand how science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity.