Science
Science is about curiosity: asking questions and finding things out.
Beehive Lane Science Curriculum
Intent
Science at Beehive Lane is a subject which is intended to provoke children’s curiosity of the world around them. This goes hand in hand with our whole school approach of encouraging children to question things for themselves. From the very beginning, our youngest children are encouraged to ask ‘What if…’, ‘How …’ and ‘Why…’ in response to their understanding of scientific phenomena in the world around them.
Our curriculum covers but goes beyond the National Curriculum, either through additional subject knowledge and/or significant famous scientists from that field of science. These famous figures act as an inspiration for the children as scientists of the future.
All units of study are fully inclusive to challenge all learners so that our highest achieving scientists are continuously challenges and children with SEND are supported to access learning in a manner appropriate to their needs.
Implementation
Units of study build progressively on children’s prior knowledge to deepen their learning and understanding of the world around them. This knowledge is taught through a range of practical activities, which allow children to apply this learning in their own investigative work. Children also develop their use of increasingly specific scientific equipment as they progress through the school.
Each unit of study has topic-specific vocabulary which children are taught and then use in their work during lessons so they can express themselves and their ideas clearly and accurately.
Children develop a range of scientific skills as they progress through the school. These skills include elements such as observation, planning and conducting investigations, recording results and reaching conclusions based on the evidence of their investigative work. Asking questions is also a significant aspect of scientific skills progression, so children are taught how to harness their curiosity in asking questions and making predictions.
Teachers use assessment for learning techniques and strategies to address any misconceptions and to ensure all children make good progress in their scientific development. Judgements of children’s progress are made on a termly basis, recorded internally and reported to parents. End of key stage teacher assessments are also reported to the Local Authority.
Impact
The teaching and learning of Science ensures children progress leave each year groups with the necessary skills and knowledge required for their next year. Internal analysis shows the significant majority of children in all year groups demonstrate a ‘Secure’ understanding of skills and knowledge.
Through a high quality of Science education, children also demonstrate good progress in their thinking skills, problem solving skills, reasoning skills and explanation skills. These are skills that apply to the children’s work in Science, but also more broadly to other subjects and areas of life.
Children leaving Beehive Lane are well-equipped for Science at secondary school and look forward enthusiastically to doing so. A number of our former children develop this even further by pursuing Science or engineering degrees at university.