Rose Hill Primary School

"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity,
and is the torch which illuminates the world."   Louis Pasteur

At Rose Hill, our aims in Science are to equip pupils with knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the science curriculum, enabling them to understand the uses and implications of science, today and in the future. Year groups are taught science separately, including those children who are in a mixed age class. We use progression grids in knowledge and working scientifically to ensure that prior knowledge, skills and vocabulary are built upon in subsequent year groups. These grids are also used to acknowledge and cater for the future learning the children will experience in their Science journey at school. During Science lessons, children explore the world around them and are encouraged to raise their own questions linked to the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Within the national curriculum, certain topic areas are repeated across year groups, meaning that children may revisit a particular topic but with increasing difficulty and a different focus each time.

The main focus areas in primary science are:

• Plants and animals (including humans), identifying habitats, evolution and inheritance.
• Electricity and changing circuits, forces, magnets, Earth and Space, light, sight and sound.
• Materials and states of matter.

At Rose Hill, pupils have the opportunity to carry out practical investigations in science that help them to develop their 7 scientific skills.

The scientific skills:

• asking questions
• making predictions
• setting up tests
• observing and measuring
• recording data
• interpreting and communicating results
• evaluating

We also teach different types of enquiry approaches that children may use to find out answers to investigable questions:

• comparative / fair testing
• research
• observation over time
• pattern seeking
• identifying, grouping and classifying
• problem solving

In the EYFS, Science is included within the Understand the World area of learning.  The children are given opportunities to play, explore, create and engage in active scientific learning linked to their own experiences and other curriculum areas.  Children are encouraged to think critically and ask questions.  In KS1, children are supported in the use of scientific enquiry and by KS2 children plan different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary.  Lessons include the use of practical activities, grouping and comparing, taking measurements and using technology for research. 

Links are made with other curriculum subjects where relevant, to further enhance learning. Including making links between STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

"Science helps us to learn about people who have changed the world. " (UKS2)

"I like to do science because we get to do experiments for ourselves and see how things actually work, for example, this year we were investigating mixtures and seeing which things dissolve. " (UKS2)

"I really adore science because we get to learn outside and see how things around us really work and why they happen." (LKS2)

"I love observing change in science because it is interesting to see where things start to where they end. " (LKS2)

"I really like science because I can look after my own plant and learn how to help it grow" (KS1)

"Science is everywhere so it is very special. " (KS1)