Louise Stubberfield
At Sacred Heart, we believe that Science is essential to everyday life and our aim is for all our children to become confident, resilient and curious scientists; is therefore important for all children to be scientifically literate.
We believe that Science changes lives, shapes society and addresses global challenges. It provides a lens through which to understand the world around us and promotes curiosity, rational explanation and causality.
Science is a means of discovering and understanding the world around us. It consists of a body of knowledge which attempts to explain phenomena and experiences. It also involves a number of skills and processes by which this knowledge is achieved and applied. Science is also concerned with the development of attitudes concerning scientific activity
Our curriculum enables children to learn scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding alongside practical, hands-on experiences which develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science. Pupils will learn about the work of significant scientists throughout history and consider the uses and implications of science, both today and for the future.
We believe that primary science helps pupils to:
investigate problems
learn how science works
discover why science matters in the world
Scientific knowledge should:
be based on children’s existing conceptual understanding
arouse curiosity about natural phenomena which stimulates the posing of questions
be a systematic means of enabling the children to ask and attempt to answer questions arising from observations
provide models of scientists who have contributed to a field of science
expose children to the various strands of specialisation but which are still related
recognise that different children experience science differently
Science teaching should enable the children to:
challenge the perception that science can provide absolute truth and provide a solution to all problems
appreciate the scientific process as one way of appreciating life
appreciate the importance of science in everyday life
appreciate the influence of science on society
develop a positive critical attitude towards scientific developments
recognise the limitations of science
be ready to engage in science and scientific methodology
appreciate that everyone benefits from the positive results of science
Our expectation is that the majority of children will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace with learning always starting from the children’s prior knowledge and any misconceptions that they may have. From this , units of work can be personalised to the needs of the children.
The following documents outline the content of the Science Curriculum that is taught at the school. These documents should be read in conjunction with the Termly Curriculum Outlines, as these provide more detailed information of the how these topics are to be taught.
Our Science Curriculum is based around the guidance given in the National Curriculum 2014.