Science
At Newdigate, we encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The Science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes.
Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills. We ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built-on and developed throughout children’s time at the school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently and continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings. We intend to provide all children regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability with a broad and balanced science curriculum.
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. Planning for science is a process in which all teachers ensure that the school gives full coverage of the 2014 National Curriculum programmes of study for Science and Understanding of the World in the Early Years Foundation Stage. At the start of each topic teachers take time to find out what our children already understand and want to find out. Our teachers use this to adapt and extend the curriculum to match children’s interests and needs, current events, the use of any support staff and the resources available. We include the use of technology, wherever appropriate, to aid teaching and learning. Through teacher modelling and planned questioning we want our children to wonder about and be amazed and surprised by the world around them as we recognise that our children sometimes lack experiences. Key scientific language is modelled throughout lessons enabling our children to be familiar with and use vocabulary accurately. Teachers are also encouraged to plan in trips and visitors to enhance our children’s learning experience.
At Newdigate we aspire to promote children’s independence and for all children to take responsibility in their own learning.
Children will know more, remember more and understand more about the curriculum. This is evidenced through regular pupil voice, monitoring and looking at outcomes which are measured against our age-based progression grids. Children are to retain prior-learning and explicitly make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning. |
The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at Newdigate are equipped with skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.
Science Vision
After discussions with both teachers and pupils, a science vision for science was created. These five principles drive good teaching and learning in science and outline what the teachers and pupils think are important qualities in a scientist.