Intent
At Larkspur Community Primary School, we intend to provide a high-quality Science education that nurtures curiosity, fosters critical thinking and encourages lifelong learning. Rooted in our curriculum drivers — Learning for Life, Believe You Can, and Everyone Belongs — our Science curriculum makes learning real and relevant, promotes independence and resilience, and builds pupils’ confidence as capable scientists. We create an inclusive environment where every child feels valued, empowered to ask questions, take risks, and learn from mistakes. Through high expectations, meaningful enquiry and collaborative learning, we equip all pupils with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to understand the world around them and contribute positively to it.
We aim to:
- Cultivate Scientific Enquiry: Inspire students to ask questions, formulate hypotheses, conduct investigations, draw conclusions based on evidence and build confidence through hands on experience.
- Stimulate Curiosity: Encourage pupils to ask questions, explore ideas, and think critically about the world around them.
- Deepen Understanding: Provide a comprehensive understanding of key scientific concepts and principles across the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Promote Environmental Awareness: Instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment and understanding of the relevance of Science in everyday life, particularly in topics such as climate change and sustainability.
- Provide Full and Progressive Coverage of the National Curriculum: Ensure that our curriculum comprehensively covers all aspects of the National Curriculum for Science, allowing pupils to acquire a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that build progressively as they advance through year groups.
- Encourage Collaborative Learning: Offer opportunities for children to work together, valuing one another’s ideas and learning from difference perspectives.
- Implement Retrieval Practice: Reinforce long-term memory through opportunities in each lesson to revisit and apply previously taught content.
- Emphasise Hands-On Learning: Place value on hands-on, exploratory activities that develop key scientific skills and embed learning with purpose.
Implementation
To achieve our intent, we implement a comprehensive and engaging Science curriculum rooted in both the National Curriculum requirements and current educational best practices. Key components of our implementation strategy include:
- Structured Curriculum Framework: Our science curriculum is designed to provide full and progressive coverage of the National Curriculum, ensuring that each year group builds on prior learning with a clear focus on age expectations and depth of understanding.
- Incorporation of the Five Lines of Scientific Enquiry: Throughout the topics taught, we cover the five lines of scientific enquiry:
- Fair Testing
- Sorting and Classifying
- Observation Over Time
- Research
- Pattern Seeking
- Hands-On Learning Experiences: We employ a range of practical and investigatory activities, such as experiments and exploring the outdoors, enabling pupils to engage actively with scientific concepts. Emphasising hands-on learning enriches their understanding and fosters a genuine interest in the subject. We provide opportunities for pupils to use scientific equipment and tools safely, reinforcing the enquiry-based learning approach. Through practical work, pupils develop resilience to learn, learn to preserve with challenges and grow in their confidence to ‘have a go’.
- Cross-Curricular Opportunities: Science learning is integrated with other subjects, such as Maths and Geography, to enhance students’ contextual understanding. This thematic approach allows pupils to see the relevance of Science in various aspects of life.
- Inclusive Learning: Lessons are designed with adaptability in mind, ensuring that all learners can access the curriculum. We provide varied resources, scaffolding, and support tailored to meet the diverse needs of our pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), enabling everyone to participate fully in lessons.
- Positive Learning Culture: Teachers model constructive language around challenge, effort and mistake-making, encouraging pupils to see themselves as capable learners and active participants in scientific discovery.
- Retrieval Practice Strategies: Each lesson incorporates retrieval practice techniques, such as quizzes, to help reinforce prior learning and support long-term retention of scientific knowledge.
- Assessment and Feedback: We utilise formative assessments, including observations, questioning and practical tasks, to monitor student progress regularly. Feedback is provided in a timely manner, allowing pupils to reflect on their understanding and improve continuously.
Impact
The impact of our science curriculum is not only evident in the academic outcomes but in pupils’ confidence, curiosity and sense of belonging. We measure the success of our intent and implementation by:
- Pupil Engagement and Attainment: High levels of pupil engagement in science lessons are evidenced through observations and pupil surveys. Our end-of-topic assessments show that a significant percentage of pupils meet age-related expectations in science.
- Strong Topic Knowledge: Pupils demonstrate a thorough understanding of key scientific concepts and are able to articulate their knowledge and apply it across different contexts. They show independence in their learning and a deep connection to the subject matter.
- Skills Development: Pupils exhibit enhanced scientific skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent inquiry. They are able to design experiments, analyse data, and articulate their findings effectively.
- Positive Attitudes Towards Science: We foster a positive attitude towards science, as indicated by pupil feedback. Increased interest in STEM subjects among pupils demonstrates the success of our curriculum.
- Parental Involvement and Community Engagement: Events such as Science Days strengthen connections with families and the wider community, promoting shared enthusiasm for scientific learning.
In conclusion, the Science curriculum at Larkspur ensures that by the time children leave us they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and mindset needed for success in secondary science and beyond. They are curious, confident learners who work well with others, approach challenges positively and understand their role in the world as informed, responsible young citizens.
Science Documents
