Science

At Shirehampton Primary School, we want children to be curious about the world around them and develop the knowledge and skills they need to explore, question and understand it.

Our Science curriculum combines the development of scientific knowledge with practical investigation and enquiry. Children are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, observe carefully, investigate ideas, analyse results and use evidence to explain what they discover.

Wherever possible, Science is practical and hands-on, helping children to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the natural world.

 Our Vision for Science

Children are naturally curious about how the world works, and our Science curriculum aims to build upon that curiosity.

We want children to:

• Develop secure scientific knowledge and understanding

• Ask questions about the world around them

• Develop practical scientific enquiry skills

• Make predictions and test their ideas

• Observe, measure, compare and classify

• Gather, record and interpret information

• Use evidence to draw conclusions

• Develop and use accurate scientific vocabulary

• Recognise the relevance of Science to everyday life

• See themselves as scientists and understand the possibilities offered by STEM

We aim to provide stimulating and engaging learning experiences which encourage children to think creatively, investigate ideas and develop increasingly sophisticated scientific understanding. 

What Children Learn

Scientific learning begins in the Early Years, particularly through Understanding the World.

Children explore natural materials, plants, animals, forces and changes. They use their senses, talk about what they observe, explore how things work and begin to ask and answer questions about the world around them. 

From Year 1 onwards, Science is taught as a core National Curriculum subject.

Across Key Stages 1 and 2, children develop knowledge across areas including:

• Plants and living things

• Animals, including humans

• Materials and their properties

• Habitats and the environment

• Rocks and soils

• Light

• Sound

• Forces and magnets

• Electricity

• Earth and space

• Evolution and inheritance

Knowledge is carefully developed as children progress through the school, allowing them to revisit and build upon previous learning.

How We Teach Science

Science is taught regularly as a discrete subject, with opportunities for children to learn through both direct teaching and practical exploration.

Lessons build children's substantive knowledge of scientific concepts alongside the procedural knowledge and skills needed to work scientifically.

Teachers identify children's existing knowledge and misconceptions before and during learning so that new teaching can build upon secure foundations.

Scientific vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited, helping children to understand, discuss and explain increasingly complex scientific ideas accurately.

Where appropriate, learning is connected to real-life contexts and wider issues, helping children understand the relevance and importance of Science beyond the classroom. 

 Working Scientifically

Working scientifically is an important part of Science at Shirehampton and develops progressively as children move through the school.

Children learn to:

• Ask scientific questions

• Make predictions

• Observe closely

• Use scientific equipment

• Carry out practical enquiries

• Set up comparative and fair tests

• Measure accurately

• Identify and classify

• Gather and record data

• Present their findings in different ways

• Identify patterns and relationships

• Draw conclusions from evidence

• Evaluate investigations

• Suggest improvements and further questions

As children become older, they take increasing responsibility for planning investigations, selecting appropriate methods, interpreting results and using scientific evidence to support their conclusions. 

 Practical Science & Investigation

We believe children develop scientific understanding by experiencing Science as well as learning about it.

Practical investigation is therefore an important part of our curriculum. Children are given opportunities to explore ideas, solve problems, test predictions and investigate scientific questions.

Investigations follow a clear process of planning, carrying out an enquiry and reviewing the findings. Children are encouraged to consider what their results show, whether their investigation was successful and how it could be improved.

Our curriculum uses TAPS focused assessment activities to support the development and assessment of children's practical scientific enquiry skills. 

 Scientific Vocabulary

Developing children's scientific language is an important part of our Science curriculum.

Children are introduced to subject-specific vocabulary and are taught to understand, pronounce, spell and use scientific terms accurately.

As children progress through the school, they develop an increasingly sophisticated scientific vocabulary which enables them to explain their ideas, discuss their observations and communicate their findings clearly.

Recording Science Learning

Children record their Science learning in their individual Science books.

Science books provide a record of children’s developing scientific knowledge and understanding and may include written explanations, diagrams, tables, observations, predictions, results and conclusions from practical investigations.

Children are encouraged to use appropriate scientific vocabulary and to communicate their ideas and findings clearly.

Practical work remains an important part of Science, and recording is used purposefully to support children in thinking scientifically and demonstrating their understanding.

 How We Assess Science

Assessment is ongoing throughout Science teaching.

Teachers use questioning, observations, children’s explanations, work in their Science books and practical investigations to identify what children know, understand and can do.

At the beginning of new learning, teachers consider children’s prior knowledge and identify any misconceptions or gaps which may need to be addressed.

Children’s ability to work scientifically is assessed alongside their subject knowledge, with teachers considering how well children can ask questions, make predictions, carry out investigations, interpret results and draw conclusions.

 Science Curriculum & Progression

Our curriculum documents provide further information about what children learn in Science and how their scientific knowledge and skills develop as they progress through the school.

📄 Science Curriculum Overview

📄 Science Progression of Knowledge & Skills