Science lessons throughout the school are ambitious, sequenced and coherently planned so that the children continue to develop an understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think and work scientifically.
At Holy Trinity, scientific enquiry skills are learned, embedded and built upon in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed as they progress through primary school as well as transitioning to KS3. Topics, such as Plants, are taught in EYFS, in Key Stage One then studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage Two, with pupils’ knowledge and understanding being built upon in steps. Increasing their science skills through testing and investigations, pupils’ enthusiasm for being a scientist increases whilst also embedding procedural knowledge in the long-term memory.
All children are encouraged to develop and use a range of advancing skills including making observations, organising, testing, predicting, planning, carrying out investigations, recording findings and evaluating their learning. As well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners by exploring possible answers for their scientific based questions. Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built up, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. Concepts taught should be reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
From the first lesson of every unit the children have their own copy of the Knowledge Organiser (KO) for the aspect of science being studied, and this is referred to regularly during the unit. Alongside the KO, regular low stake quizzes and other retrieval practice ideas, help to consolidate the learning. Children undertake mission assignments each lesson, and learn from STEM experts, which helps to link science teaching to real-life examples. For example, Network Rail experts spoke about how their network uses electrical conductors and switches. Mission Assignments are often practical in nature, so that the children learn by doing, to embed the learning.
Planning is informed by, and aligned with the National Curriculum, including The Early Years Foundation Stage (Understanding the World). The school has adopted the Developing Experts Scheme of Work, which is adapted to meet the needs of the children at Holy Trinity, and has a mission to enable children to access high-quality STEM education.
Our curriculum extends higher achieving pupils, whilst catering for those that need extra support.
In addition to weekly lessons, an annual Science Week is held, to give further focus to STEM within the school. Parents/carers are often involved in this week, so that children gain an understanding of the types of STEM careers available to them.
Science is given a high profile at Holy Trinity, and financial resources are budgeted in order to provide high-quality resources.
Science is formally assessed on a termly basis, with assessments being recorded in SIMS assessment manager.
As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep scientific knowledge, refine practical scientific skills, and understand the role of science within the world. Scientific understanding, as well as children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is further developed by the school’s Christian ethos and also contributes to the celebration of the school community’s cultural diversity.