The Science Curriculum at St Mary's 

Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity (National Curriculum 2014).

Science has always stimulated and excited children’s curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. It also satisfies their curiosity with knowledge. Through play and observation, children learn scientific concepts from a very early age and, because of its practical nature, science can engage learners at many levels. It helps children to understand the world in which we live and we actively encourage children to be curious and inquisitive. At St Mary’s, our children learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives and the world around them.

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At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we recognise the importance of science in all aspects of daily life. As one of the core primary subjects, we aim to give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it requires. Through carefully planned lessons, our aim is for all our children to develop the knowledge, understanding and critical-thinking skills so that they will become life-long learners.

In Science, children will study a range of subjects relating to Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Our teaching will stimulate curiosity as well as promote the critical and logical thinking required to solve problems through planned questioning and detailed evaluations. Science will often be taught using a cross-curricular approach to develop a deeper understanding.

Scientific and logical thinking will be promoted through observation, questioning, hypothesising, testing, and recording. Working scientifically skills are embedded into our lessons alongside the National Curriculum requirements for each year group and children build upon their previous learning as they progress through the school. We use a detailed progression of skills map within our planning tools to ensure that skills are built upon as the children move through the school.

Our Science Curriculum is designed to deepen pupils’ appreciation and understanding of the world around them and to encourage pupils to believe that their actions can directly shape our future. Events such as the annual science fair promote and celebrate all aspects of science and deepen the engagement of pupils and the wider school community with this core curriculum subject.