Science

Implementation

The content of science teaching and learning is six science units to be covered per year group. Within this, certain topics and areas are repeated across year groups, children may revisit a particular topic in each year but with increasing vocabulary and with a different focus each time. Alongside these areas runs the Working Scientifically element. This focuses on the skills the children need to become accurate, careful and confident practical scientists. Scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with increasing depth and challenge as children move through the year groups. Through planned science topics, children develop the following types of science skills at Buckshaw:

• Questioning and researching
• Exploring and observing
• Modelling and collaborating
• Describing results and looking for patterns
• Identifying, grouping and classifying
• Planning and testing
• Explaining results
• Communicating scientific vocabulary
• Using equipment and measures

In order to inspire our children at Buckshaw, we regularly engage with experts and external agencies for example UCLAN, Manchester Science museum, Martin Mere and Chester Zoo; we also have close links with feeder High Schools (Parklands, Albany and Balshaws) to deliver any practical sessions in a science lab with the use of their specialised facilities.

Cross-curricular work helps to cement learning. To ensure that learning occurs in each subject equally, we provide opportunities for children to develop their scientific understanding and skills, whilst also strengthening their oral and written English by writing up and explaining predictions, experiments and conclusions.

Impact

At Buckshaw, we believe that progress is measured through a child’s ability to engage with the science key skills. This can be measured in a variety of ways such as questioning and communicating with the children, walking into great science sessions and through the overall learning environment in school. Children are assessed in their ability to work scientifically through teacher assessment during investigative work. The successful approach to the teaching of science at Buckshaw results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world around them. So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning, and so we provide children with opportunities to experience this. Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupils’ views and attitudes towards science, to assess the children’s enjoyment of science, and to motivate learners.

 Our young scientists at Buckshaw will feel confident with their science knowledge and enquiry skills and therefore, will be very excited about science, show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the real world.

In our teaching of Science at Buckshaw Primary School, we aim to ensure:

• Most children will achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.
• Children will retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
• Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.
• Children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically.

Buckshaw Brilliance