Science Curriculum at Mount Stewart Federation

At Mount Stewart we ensure that all students are equipped with the scientific skills required to help them understand the uses and implications of science both today, and for the future. We understand that it is important for lessons to encompass both skill-based enquiry and scientific vocabulary. Our curriculum ensures we develop children’s understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of enquiries that help them to answer Scientific questions about the world around them. Children are encouraged to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings and a love of science is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied science curriculum.

As part of our commitment to learning outside the classroom, teachers will incorporate specialist expertise and places of scientific interest where appropriate.  Cross curricular opportunities are identified, mapped and planned to ensure contextual relevance.  

Mount Stewart has a clear skills progression evident from Reception through to Year 6. We currently use the KAPOW Science curriculum scheme of work to support our planning. Lesson sequences for Science have been carefully planned, ensuring children are building on prior learning and that vocabulary is appropriate to the study being explicitly taught. 

Planning starts with an enquiry based question, and a recap of previous learning. This helps children retrieve what they have learnt in earlier programmes of study, and ensures that new knowledge is taught in the context of previous learning, to promote a shift in long term memory. Vocabulary for the lesson will be clearly explained to children and modelled throughout the unit.  This approach ensures children are able to understand the new vocabulary when it is used in teaching and learning and children can independently apply it themselves.

Throughout each planning sequence, enquiry-based activities are explored with the children cumulatively across each lesson. These are used as a learning tool that will inspire questioning, deepen thinking and extend reasoning tasks. The use of Knowledge notes are presented on lesson slides and in children’s books to support children in their weekly lessons. These will incorporate key vocabulary and diagrams relevant to the lesson to support their substantive knowledge. Children will use ‘Exit-Tickets’ to enable them to explain their reasoning to scientific skills taught within sessions.  These are completed independently, and children can choose how to present their findings and knowledge recall.

Intent:

At Mount Stewart we aim to deliver meaningful and memorable learning experiences. Our lessons encourage all pupils to build on and link prior learning with new learning, whilst promoting a love of science. We recognise and value the importance of Scientific enquiry. Through our ambitious curriculum, we aim to prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world both today and in the future. Our pedagogy encompasses the aims of the national curriculum and fosters a healthy curiosity and interest in the sciences, guiding children to realise their full potential and fulfil their vocation to be future scientists.

Staff lead and design science lessons with a no ceiling approach. All teachers will plan adaptively, considering the needs of all children including those with SEND and the most able. We strive to ensure all children access our curriculum and feel confident in exploring and understanding the Science curriculum.

We ensure that both working Scientifically and enquiry skills are built-on and developed throughout children’s time at the school. Children will feel confident in applying their scientific knowledge when using equipment, conducting experiments, investigating, explaining and reasoning concepts. Our children will be familiar with scientific terminology and, most importantly, will continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

At Mount Stewart we will continue to teach children about our ever changing environment and what we can do to be a sustainable ‘green’ school. We develop leadership skills in children to enable them to actively promote and implement initiatives to reduce our environmental impact.  

Implementation:

The acquisition of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. Linked knowledge organisers enable children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and concepts contained within each unit. The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. At Mount Stewart School, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms 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, topics by the class teacher. Our strategy is to enable all children to be catered for through adapted planning suited to their abilities where learning is re-visited across the key stages. 
• We plan for problem solving and real-life opportunities that enable children to discover the answers for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions, pattern-seek, use secondary research, measuring tools, and classify through comparative and fair testing. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. 
• Teachers will plan to provide practical, engaging lessons with opportunities for precise questioning to test conceptual knowledge and skills. This will inform their assessment of children and identify any gaps within their learning. 
• Our curriculum is progressive. We build upon their learning and skill development from previous years, with our ‘Starter activities’ and ‘Exit ticket’ questions where teachers can identify and address misconceptions.
• Working Scientifically skills are developed and enhanced throughout the children’s school career, and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. 
• Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, to embed scientific understanding.
• Opportunities are planned to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning, educational visits and workshops with experts. 
• Through enrichment days, such as ‘science week’ and ‘careers week’, we promote the profile of Science and allow time for the children to freely explore scientific topics.

Impact

At Mount Stewart our rich enquiry-based curriculum will allow all children to make progress throughout their learning journey. Children will be able to apply their Scientific knowledge into the wider world and will continue to love the Sciences with inquisitive mindsets that children can take with them when they complete their primary education. 

• Pupil voice will ensure children are getting the most out of their Science lessons. Feedback will be regularly shared with teachers and actions will be taken to ensure children are at the heart of our curriculum. 
• Teachers and children will speak confidently about Science, including making links within other areas of the curriculum and its uses in the real world. 
• Children learn the possibilities for careers in science as a result of our community links and enrichment activities such as ‘Careers Week’. 
• Children will use Scientific vocabulary in both written and oral form 
• Children will be successful in sharing their understanding of the Scientific concepts 
• Children will confidently speak about sustainable practices, and will make conscious decisions to improve our school grounds and environment 
• End of unit assessments and regular AFL in lessons  will show that an increased number of children at Mount Stewart are meeting age related expectations
• Regular learning walks and book looks will showcase consistent high quality teaching across phases 

We would like to introduce Amy Bracher, our inspiring Science Lead at Mount Stewart Federation, whose passion and expertise are driving our dynamic and engaging science curriculum.