Our vision for science:
At Hawes Side Academy our vision for Science is to develop children’s passion for the subject which will enable them to be curious about the world and scientific phenomena. We want to build an environment where the children can feel confident to learn from their mistakes and deepen their scientific knowledge by applying a range of skills. We believe these opportunities will equip them to become life-long learners and continually question the world around them.
Our approach to science:
The acquisition of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. The progression of skills, for working scientifically, are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. This enables children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit.
At Hawes Side Academy, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science.
Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;
• Science is taught in planned, and arranged, topic blocks by the class teacher. Our strategy is to enable all children to be catered for through adapted planning suited to their abilities
• We plan for problem solving and real life opportunities that enable children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating practical, engaging lessons with opportunities for precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning.
• Our curriculum is progressive. We use PLAN documents to ensure learning is sequential and builds upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. Teachers can also quickly identify misconceptions that need addressing.
• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career, and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in keeping with the topics.
• Teachers model how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding.
• Through enrichment days, such as ‘science week’, we promote the profile of Science and allow time for the children to freely explore scientific topics
• The study of significant scientists in history is linked to most topics. This highlights the importance of historic scientific events and the development of knowledge and skills in science overtime. It also reminds children that they can see science around them every day as they connect their learning to their real world.
Our science curriculum:
The National Curriculum Mathematics Programmes of Study for KS1 and KS2 can be found HERE