Science - Intent, Implementation and Impact

“Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.” – Rosalind Franklin

Intent 

At North Petherton Primary School, we want to inspire a love of science and the natural world. Our curriculum develops children’s scientific skills through practical, explorative activities, which build on prior learning and reflect our school values of creativity, independence and collaboration. We recognise science as a fundamental part of daily life. Our children will understand its impact on human progress and the world’s future. We nurture curiosity and excitement about natural phenomena, encouraging them to use science to explain, predict, and analyse the world around them.

We aim to:

· Inspire curiosity and a love of discovery through engaging scientific learning.

· Promote hands-on exploration, allowing children to design and lead their own investigations.

· Ensure that science is inclusive and accessible, helping every child reach their potential.

· Expand children’s scientific vocabulary, enabling them to articulate scientific concepts clearly and precisely.

· Develop the necessary skills for children to think and work scientifically.

· Foster a growth mindset by encouraging risk-taking and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.

· Explore the work of pioneering scientists, modern-day innovators, and professionals who use science in their careers, highlighting their contributions and lasting impact on the world.

Implementation – How do we plan to achieve our aims?

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following:

· Science is taught weekly in year groups using clear, comprehensive plans in line with the National Curriculum.

· Many science units are revisited throughout the year to help children observe changes over time, deepening their understanding of key concepts such as habitats, seasons, and life cycles. This approach reinforces learning, allows children to make real-world connections, and supports long-term knowledge retention.

· Children's prior knowledge is assessed at the start of a unit to tailor teaching to their needs, incorporate their interests, and ensure their voices are valued in the learning process.

· ‘Working scientifically’ skills (disciplinary knowledge) are embedded within lessons to develop enquiry-based learning and scientific thinking.

· Children ask their own scientific questions and explore them through investigations.

· Cross-curricular links with literacy, maths, and other subjects are made to deepen understanding, reinforce learning, and show how scientific concepts apply in real-world contexts.

· Use of the outdoor environment further supports children’s learning including class trees as well as purposeful educational visits, workshops and guest speakers.

· Teachers help children connect new learning with prior knowledge to deepen understanding.

· Children with special educational needs and EAL children receive additional support, such as pre-teaching vocabulary, scaffolded writing structures (e.g., pictures/questions), widget maps, and differentiated tasks.

· We raise aspirations by celebrating scientists’ work, highlighting science-related careers, inviting parents to share how they use science in their jobs, and hosting monthly assemblies that focus on influential scientists.

· Science Ambassadors inspire peers, promote scientific learning, and serve as the voice of children across the school.

· Regular formative assessment, including concept cartoons, targeted questioning, and identifying and addressing misconceptions, ensures progress and deepens understanding.

· Each unit concludes with a summative quiz to assess understanding and reinforce key concepts.

· Any concepts or skills that children have not yet grasped will be recorded, revisited later in the year, and shared with future teachers to ensure gaps are addressed and learning is reinforced over time.

Impact – How will we know if we have achieved our aims?

We will know we have achieved our aims when children develop a lifelong curiosity for science and can confidently think and work scientifically. Evidence of our impact includes:

· Engaged and enthusiastic learners – children actively participate in lessons, ask questions, and show excitement about scientific discovery.

· Progress and achievement – Regular assessments, including summative end-of-unit quizzes to assess overall understanding and formative assessment strategies, such as targeted questioning, odd one out activities and concept cartoons to identify and address misconceptions and reinforce understanding.

· Application of Knowledge – Pupils make links between scientific concepts and real-world applications, including careers in science.

· Pupil Voice and Leadership – Science Ambassadors gather and share student feedback, leading initiatives that promote science across the school.

· Celebration of Science – Monthly assemblies, visits from professionals, and parental engagement highlight the importance of science in everyday life.

· Long-Term Retention – Children revisit key topics throughout the year, enabling them to observe seasonal changes and long-term scientific processes in action.

Through these measures, we ensure every child leaves our school with a strong scientific foundation and the confidence to explore science beyond the classroom.