SCIENCE

Intent

At West Twyford Primary School we believe that a high-quality science curriculum will enable children to gain an understanding of the world, scientific processes and of the uses and implications of science, today and for the future. Our science curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and enables children to develop a sense of excitement about natural phenomena. Scientific skills are embedded within every lesson, and prior knowledge is built upon. Children are exposed to a wide range of scientific vocabulary, and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged. 

Through the delivery of high-quality, memorable Science lessons, children will: 

• Engage in a range of scientific enquiries, focusing on one science skill per lesson; 

• Develop deeper scientific subject knowledge, building on their prior learning; 

• Acquire an extensive base of scientific vocabulary;   

• Be given opportunities to apply questioning skills, as well as effective techniques on reporting their findings; 

• Improve their skills in reaching clear conclusions and explaining their findings;  

• A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world around them. 

All children will have: 

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills. 

• A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts. 

• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life. 

Implementation 

Our Science Curriculum follows a simple, progressive model:  

1. Threshold concepts – the ‘big ideas’ in Science that pupils will explore every year:  

• Work scientifically  

• Understand plants  

• Understand animals and humans  

• Investigate living things  

• Understand evolution and inheritance  

• Investigate materials  

• Understand movement, forces and magnets  

• Understand light and seeing  

• Investigate sound and hearing  

• Understand electrical circuits  

• Understand the Earth’s movement in space   

 2. Milestones – the goals pupils should reach to show that they are meeting the expectations of the curriculum.  

Each lesson will focus on two milestones – one in ‘working scientifically’, and one from the knowledge threshold concepts. The lessons children are taught will each have a key question, ultimately leading up to a ‘big question’. This learning journey will enable children to make links between milestones and develop their understanding of bigger concepts. 

Impact

The impact of our Science curriculum is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge expected from the National Curriculum, but also life-long, scientific skills that develop them into scientists themselves. 

All children will have:  

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.  

• A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.  

• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.  

School Trips

There are several opportunities for school trips linked to the Science curriculum. Here are some examples of places the children have visited in previous years:

• London Aquarium
• Kew Gardens
• Bocketts Farm
• Natural History Museum
• London Zoo
• Science Museum
• The Living Rainforest
• Bechtel

Children can find out more about science topics on our 'Links to other sites' page, including educational games.