Intent

Our aim is to stimulate and excite pupil’s natural curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them; and to develop enquiring minds using a practical “hands on” approach. The children are encouraged to observe, question, hypothesise, interpret and record their findings using and building on their knowledge and skills. Science is taught through logical investigations, controlled observations, classification and explanation. Wherever possible, this area of the curriculum is linked to other areas of the curriculum and is taught through first-hand experience. The school is very well resourced with a range of science equipment as well as specially created habitats such as the environmental area.

Implementation

Our curriculum is built around the principle of greater learner involvement in their work. It requires deep thinking and encourages learners to explore, talk, test and develop ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments. They ask their own questions about what they observe and make some decisions about which types of scientific enquiry are likely to be the best ways of answering them, including observing changes over time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative and fair tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information. They draw simple conclusions and use scientific language to talk and write about what they have found out.  Children are able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry-based learners.

Impact

The successful approach to the teaching of science at TGMS will result in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education.

Assessment in Science is an ongoing process. Teachers will make informal judgements about pupils’ progress and attainment as they observe them throughout lessons and mark their work.

At the beginning of each topic, children are assessed on their prior scientific knowledge using a Google Form test. This informs teachers of misconceptions and gaps, which can then be addressed throughout the topic. The children then complete an end-of-topic test, which informs teachers of their progress.

Children are also assessed on their working scientifically skills; this involves planning, carrying out and evaluating a practical investigation under teacher observation.

Children are assessed as one of the following:

• Working below the national standard (Emerging)
• Working towards the national standard (Developing)
• Working at the national standard (Secure)
• Working above the national standard (Above)