Intent

At HWCE, we aim for a high quality Science curriculum, which develops skills in line with the national curriculum and embeds the invaluable qualities in our school vision.

HWCE is a loving, inclusive school community with a Christian ethos that enables all to be independent, confident, resilient learners, respectful within the school and the wider world, encouraging all to flourish.

Our curriculum is inclusive, to ensure opportunities for all learners are equal, irrespective of SEN, gender, ethnicity, background or beliefs. We aim to do this by placing a greater focus on practical and investigation lessons, where children have the opportunity to develop their working scientifically skills and explore the world around them. This ensures all learners have an equal chance to succeed, regardless of written barriers to learning and enables them all to thrive.

Implementation

The national curriculum is followed and where possible, links to other topics are made to deepen their learning. All classes follow a curriculum overview.

Each class follows the Collins scheme of work – selecting and adapting the lessons that best suit their class’s needs for development regarding skills whilst still covering the objectives.  This scheme of work and teachers planning provides differentiation, challenge and progression for all pupils.

Working scientifically skills are embedded throughout lessons and are developed through following the skills progression grid which provides a framework of expectation across year groups. Topics are taught at the appropriate times of year to best incorporate experiences and awareness of the concepts. Teachers have access to a wide variety of resources and scientific equipment for every topic to ensure their lessons are engaging, inclusive and embed scientific understanding. Teachers are also encouraged to incorporate outdoor learning wherever possible in order for children to develop an understanding of the world around them. Teachers create a positive attitude to science within their classrooms and reinforce to all children that they are capable of achieving high standards in science. Independence is encouraged through investigating their own questions and testing their ideas. Children usually work in mixed ability groups to support and extend each other’s learning. Children’s knowledge is assessed in lessons through questioning, observation and written work. Their working scientifically skills are assessed at the end of each term, to track progression and areas to develop. Classrooms have a Science displays which celebrates work and acts as a working wall to enhance the teaching and learning We also continually foster a love of Science through holiday homework tasks, links to other topics, Science days, school trips and visitors.

Impact

To ensure that all children, regardless of their starting points, gain a love of Science. As well as this, they will acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the Science curriculum along with the skills to best equip them to progress further throughout their education and everyday lives.

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop a keen interest in questioning and learning about the world around them through an engaging and fun curriculum centred on investigation and varied experiences.

• Are able to access and contribute to lessons, regardless of abilities, due to well-planned, inclusive lessons with a clear development of skills and knowledge.

• Gain a rich scientific vocabulary and be able to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.

• Develop a wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.

• Can work effectively independently – trying out their own ideas and in a team – sharing ideas and roles.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Marking children’s work
• Observations and discussions
• Pupil focus groups
• Book scrutiny
• Learning walks & observations
• Assessment