Science

The intention of the Science curriculum at Hook Junior School is that pupils learn to recognise the importance of Science in every day aspect of life. As one of the cores subjects taught in primary schools, we give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires. We encourage pupil’s confidence, we strive to stimulate and encourage pupil’s curiosity, investigation and enquiry skills. Planning links to our school overview, which uses the National Curriculum, we also use the Hampshire Learning Journeys to support the progression of units and investigations. Through the high quality lessons taught and the culture embedded across the school pupils.

The Scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with Science as a process of enquiry. It will develop pupils to be curious and to lean like scientists, encouraging pupils to have respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.

At Hook Junior School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching offers opportunities for children to:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics;
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;
• be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
• develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
• Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts.
• Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
• Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

The National Curriculum will provide a structure and skill development for the science curriculum being taught throughout the school, which links to the Hampshire Learning Journey and the Science progression document and overview. Lessons are planned and taught using the skills from our school enquiry model,

Enquiry Model

At Hook Junior School, pupils have weekly lessons in Science throughout the year, using various resources to support learning. Pupils learning is supported with additional opportunities and experiences in Science, such as Science Week, STEM activities, visits and visitors.

We endeavor to ensure that the Science curriculum we provide will give children the confidence and motivation to continue to develop their skills into the next stage of their education and life experiences.

Science Implementation

At Hook Junior School, we follow the National Curriculum, In line with legal requirements and our policy Science lessons learn for 1 hour weekly. The length of time units are taught for is line with HIAS guidance (please see table below).

Units taught have a clear progression of skills and knowledge taught, and the sequence used for investigation taught promote this progression using the Hampshire Learning Journey. Pupils learn to investigate using the Hampshire investigation model.

Investigation Model

Pupils learn to plan and conduct their own investigations, considering what needs to stay the same, what will change and what they plan to measure. The model then turns into a results table. Hampshire has a clear progression across the Key Stages for the progression of this model, with clear expectations.

Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and using the outdoor space 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 will be taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher. This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge
• Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow 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 engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up
• We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence
• 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 demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts

Science Impact

The successful approach at Hook Junior School results in an engaging, high-quality science curriculum, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them. So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning and so we provide children with opportunities to experience this. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies such as the STEM association. Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupil’s views and attitudes to Science to support the children’s enjoyment of science and to motivate learners.

Progression aims for Science are described in the Science Curriculum Overview.