Science at St Charles’ Catholic Primary School 

At St Charles’ Catholic Primary School, we aspire to be scientists! We want our children to develop a love of science and have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be astronauts, forensic scientists, toxicologists or microbiologists.

Our curriculum enables our children develop their scientific knowledge and ability. We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with.

Curriculum Intent

To achieve this, it involves exciting practical hands on experiences and encourage curiosity and questioning. Our aim is that these high-quality science lessons should engage and inspire pupils, which will help every child develop and extend their understanding and vocabulary, as well as promoting a thirst for learning.

At St Charles’ Catholic Primary School, we use the Rising Stars Primary’s scheme of work which enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets outlined in the National Curriculum and the aims of the scheme align with those in the National Curriculum. This allows us to have a coherently planned and sequenced science curriculum. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements but also to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Please see our Curriculum-Overview

Implementation

At St Charles’ Catholic Primary School, science topics are taught within each year group using the Rising Stars Primary’s scheme of work. This allows year groups to build upon previous learning and therefore develop depth of understanding and progression of skills.

Teachers aim to promote enjoyment and foster interest of the scientific disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics, whilst the children explore, question, predict and plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.

Please see our Progression of Skills Knowledge and Vocabulary

Our Medium-Term-Planning shows when each unit is taught in each year group and that meaningful cross curricular links are made across subjects when and wherever possible, linking prior knowledge to new learning which deepens children’s knowledge, understanding and skills and promotes a broad and balanced curriculum.

At the start of each topic the children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about the current topic. They will also be given a knowledge organiser at the start of the topic which details some key Science Curriculum Statement information, dates and vocabulary.

Impact

The impact of our Science curriculum will lead to outstanding progress over time, across key stages, relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Most children will be expected to leave St Charles’ Catholic Primary School reaching at least age-related expectations for Science. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts, our Science curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Science learners understand that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. We want to empower our children so they understand they have the capability to change the world. This is evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their work and their overwhelming enjoyment for science.

Further information: Science Policy