Science

We care for all God’s children, unconditionally. As a rural town community, the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-35) and Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) resonates with our children who feel feeling valued and welcomed as individuals. All members of our school family, the community and the wider world are valued and respected. Each child is individually known, enabling us to ensure that every child achieves their very best.

Intent

At St Nicks, every student is motivated to delve into and examine the world in their vicinity, along with their perceptions of it. They do so by employing critical thinking, situating learning in real-life scenarios, and engaging in practical, hands-on exploration. Our conviction underscores the significance of science and the notion that scientific reasoning is accessible to all. Our community prides itself on its scientific literacy. Young minds are nurtured to nurture their inquisitiveness and pursue their own paths of investigation whenever fitting.

At St Nicks we aim for all pupils to:

• Understand and question the world around them.
• Acquire scientific knowledge and skills for future success.
• Contribute to the wider community.
• Possess a solid knowledge base for evaluating crucial matters.
• Analyse evidence and engage in problem-solving.
• Cultivate confidence in forming personal opinions and effective communication.
• Experience an engaging and challenging curriculum.
• Sustain a lifelong enjoyment and curiosity for Science and the world.

Implementation

We achieve this through:

• Starting in the Early Years, during curriculum focus time, children will work on ‘Understanding the world’ where they will develop scientific skills such as asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways and observing closely using simple equipment.
• In KS1 and KS2, a cross-phase Science curriculum helps students understand and question the world around them.
• A focus on 10 big ideas that are spiralled in increasing complexity over the course of primary school (Forces; Electricity and electromagnets; Energy; Waves; Matter; Reactions; Earth; Organisms; Ecosystems; Genes)
• Scientific skills which are developed throughout a student’s time with us, focusing on 4 key areas that develop pupils’ scientific competences; planning investigations, investigate, analyse and thinking like a scientist.
• A cycle of lessons for each topic, which carefully plans for progression and depth
• A scaffolded approach to lessons to ensure all learners achieve
• Practical demonstrations, visitors, trips and events where children are given the opportunity to reflect on scientific phenomenon and the wonders of the natural world.

Intended Impact

Students acquire comprehensive expertise and abilities, as evidenced by assessment records showcasing successful attainment of the key stage benchmarks. Young learners possess an understanding of the diverse spectrum of science-related endeavors and possibilities accessible to them, fueling their enthusiasm to explore these avenues in the times ahead.