Science
At Discovery Academy, we believe that children learn their best when they are showing the Academy values of Discovering, Inspiring, Caring, Improving and Achieving within our curriculum. We believe in aspiration for all so want to create a world where the sky is the limit for all of our pupils; building pathways for all and focusing on personal and academic success and eventually progress to successful employment.
Subject Intent: At Discovery Academy we believe that a high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics and working scientifically. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupil’s sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things behave, and analyse causes.
Implementation: Science teaching at Discovery Academy involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs. Science is linked to topics that allow for complete National Curriculum objectives whilst broadening children’s knowledge in inclusive and engaging ways. Teachers plan to suit their children’s interests, current events, their own teaching style, the use of any support staff and the resources available. Pre-topic quizzes are used to gage prior knowledge and also to create interest and provide the teacher with lines of enquiry that will ‘hook’ children. We also hold an annual Science Week in which we enthuse the children’s passion for the subject.
When teaching Science, there is a clear distinction in the approaches adopted in KS1 and KS2. Within KS1, the focus is on exploration and observation. We want the children to foster a love for Science by experiencing a multitude of different scientific experiences and respond to their observations. Within KS2, the primary focus is on investigative work and working scientifically. Children build on their inquisitive questioning, which they developed in KS1, and plan investigations to answer questions which they have created. Throughout the teaching of Science, teachers carefully plan in the use of scientific vocabulary; the also understand the value of scientific knowledge and how this should be built on. Each year groups learning journey is planned so that it builds on the children’s previous learning which creates a connectedness throughout the year groups.
Non Negotiables.
- Children will conduct at least one experiment each half term
- Clear progression of scientific vocabulary
- Balance of scientific knowledge of skills
- Weekly lesson last 1.5hrs
- Use of bespoke curriculum to inform planning
Impact: Formative assessment: Children will be assessed daily against clear learning challenges. Feedback should be given in order to allow children to progress further or address any misconceptions which may have arisen (see marking policy for further details).
Summative assessment: Teachers will assess their children against the statements based on the National Curriculum and how well the children are achieving within Science; these judgements will regularly be moderated with peers and leaders in order to ensure their accuracy.