Intent:

At Portfields Primary School, we cultivate a vibrant and engaging environment where children are inspired to be curious, investigative, and lifelong learners about the world around them. Our science curriculum, designed in line with the 2014 National Curriculum, fosters a deep understanding of scientific concepts and ignites a passion for exploration and discovery. We aim to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become responsible citizens who can think critically, solve problems, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Implementation:

Core Principles:

• Inquiry-Based Learning: We actively engage children in scientific enquiry through hands-on experiments, investigations, and problem-solving activities.
• Nurturing Curiosity: We foster a culture of curiosity and encourage children to ask questions, make observations, and explore phenomena independently.
• Building Scientific Skills: Our curriculum systematically develops key scientific skills, including observation, classification, measurement, data analysis, and communication.
• Spiral Learning: "Flashbacks" revisit past learning across lessons, units, years, and year groups, strengthening knowledge retention and building connections across topics.
• Engaging Content: The curriculum covers a diverse range of topics, including animals, plants, materials, forces, light, and more, ensuring all pupils find something to spark their interest.

Curriculum Framework:

• Self-Designed Curriculum: We utilise a curriculum designed by our own team, ensuring it aligns with national curriculum requirements and caters to the specific needs and interests of our pupils.
• Progression and Continuity: The curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure progression in knowledge and skills across year groups, building upon prior learning and introducing new concepts in a logical manner.
• Cross-Curricular Links: We create connections with other subjects like Mathematics, English, and Art, enriching the learning experience and demonstrating the relevance of science in everyday life.
• Outdoor Learning: We leverage opportunities for outdoor learning, allowing children to connect science concepts to the natural world and engage in real-world observations.

Assessment and Evaluation:

• Variety of Assessment Methods: We utilise a diverse range of assessment methods, including observations, quizzes, presentations, and practical tasks, to monitor progress, identify areas for development, and inform future teaching strategies.
• Pupil Voice: We actively seek feedback from pupils through surveys and discussions to understand their learning experiences and preferences, allowing us to refine the curriculum and address their needs.
• Regular Monitoring and Reflection: We continuously monitor the effectiveness of the curriculum through data analysis, observations, and collaboration among teachers, leading to ongoing improvement and adaptation.

Year Group Breakdown:

This statement provides a general overview of our approach to science across the school. Each year group focuses on specific topics as outlined below:

• Year 1: Animals, including humans; Everyday materials; Plants; Seasonal changes.
• Year 2: Living things and their habitats; Plants; Animals, including humans; Uses of everyday materials.
• Year 3: Forces and magnets; Rocks; Light; Plants; Animals and Humans.
• Year 4: Living things and their habitats; Animals, including humans; Sound; Electricity; States of matter.
• Year 5: Living things and their habitats; Earth and Space; Animals, including humans; Properties and changes of materials; Forces.
• Year 6: Living things and their habitats; Light; Evolution and inheritance; Animals, including humans; Electricity.

Impact:

Through our engaging and inquiry-based science curriculum, we strive to equip our pupils with:

• A strong foundation in scientific knowledge and understanding.
• The ability to think critically, analyse information, and solve problems.
• Essential scientific skills for lifelong learning and exploration.
• A sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.
• The confidence to ask questions, share ideas, and participate actively in scientific discourse.

This intent and implementation statement outlines the core principles and practices that guide our science curriculum at Portfields Primary School. We are committed to nurturing a generation of inquisitive young scientists who are passionate about learning, responsible citizens, and lifelong explorers of the world.