Curriculum Intent

Belsay Primary School aims to develop citizens of global change through equipping them with knowledge and understanding of world affairs to help them to be informed members of society with a strong sense of social responsibility and justice. 

We believe that Science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitude and we want to equip our children, to the very best of our ability, with these. Our curriculum is designed to help our children question and conceptualise their learning, therefore making sense of the world in which they live. The systematic, progressive approach which we take in our curriculum delivery, allows us to carefully build on, and stretch, our children’s substantive and disciplinary knowledge in an effective and supportive way.

We aim to give our children the confidence to embrace the Science opportunities with which they are presented, to help them to grow as scientists, not just on their Belsay Primary School journey, but into their future. We provide stimulating and challenging experiences which are memorable for our children.  Our children are carefully guided towards following lines of scientific enquiry, within a range of different contexts, where they can acquire the skills necessary in order to work scientifically.

We aim to grow curious, independent and observant scientists who reflect on their learning experiences. At Belsay Primary School, a love of Science is nurtured through a whole school ethos and engaging, carefully planned, memorable curriculum.

Implementation

• Our curriculum is underpinned by the Oxfam Education for Global Citizenship with seven global learning themes developing knowledge and understanding, skills and values and attitudes. This also helps to supplement our Science curriculum by providing opportunities for our children to make relevant, meaningful links throughout their learning.

• Our school values serve to add integrity to attitudes and responses in the subject and to improve the learning environment.

• Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth over a half term or term, depending on the topic. Where topics are spread across the year, this is done with observing over time as a focus and has been carefully planned.

• Each year group builds upon the learning from prior years therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.

• Children work within the 5 strands of enquiry: classifying and grouping, observing over time, pattern seeking, fair and comparative testing and research.

• These enquiry strands are carefully built into the curriculum of each year groups to ensure that the children experience a balanced range of each across the year.

• From Reception through to Year Six, children are taught to work within the elements of working scientifically including; questioning, observing, researching, investigating, using equipment, recording results, concluding and analysing.

• Children will use a range of resources and equipment when working scientifically. The skills required to use these are taught and modelled by the teacher so that they are used effectively.

• Children are exposed to, and encouraged to use, an extensive range of topic-specific vocabulary which builds progressively across the year groups.

• Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest in the scientific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Discovery learning and a range of practical lessons support them in doing so.

• Effective use of educational visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupils’ learning experiences within the Science curriculum.

• Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed and pupils are effectively and appropriately supported and challenged.