Science

At St Nicholas, we want pupils to act as, and develop as scientists through a curriculum that stimulates, excites and motivates them.

We aim to provide all children with a deep knowledge and understanding of the world around them, in addition to acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically, gaining a secure understanding of scientific processes. As they progress, children understand the uses and implications of science and learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives, others and the future of our world.

All children are given opportunities to participate in activities across the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics during their time in school, transferring and building on prior knowledge, through carefully sequenced lessons, so that they know and remember more.

“Learning can be defined as an alteration in long-term memory. If nothing has altered in long-term memory, nothing has been learned…pupils connect new knowledge with existing knowledge.” Ofsted

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded throughout the topics, where the children are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills more independently, including: questioning the world around them, planning experiments and making quantitative and qualitative observations.

Intent

At St Nicholas we intend to:

Use a variety of teaching strategies to develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding by building on pupils’ curiosity and sense of awe of the natural world.
Develop pupils’ investigative skills – including observing, questioning, planning, predicting, experimenting, measuring, recording, interpreting, hypothesising, communicating and evaluating.
Provide pupils with the opportunities to apply their knowledge, skills and ideas in real life contexts and become aware of the uses of science in the wider world.
Help foster concern about, and actively care for, our environment.
Develop pupils’ use of information and communication technology (ICT) in their science studies.
Enable pupils to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data by using the language and vocabulary of science.
Develop pupils’ social skills so that they can work responsibly and cooperatively with others, develop resilience and perseverance when they are faced with a challenge.
Extend the learning environment for our pupils, via our school grounds, to localities such as Birchington, Minster and Reculver, highlighting specific outdoor learning opportunities throughout our planning.
Promote a ‘healthy lifestyle’ for our pupils.
Spark a life-long interest which leads our children on to be the scientific minds of the future!

For more information about our full curriculum offer, please see the documents below: