Science

Our Science coordinator is Miss Wilson

Intent

At Towngate Primary Academy,  our ambitious science curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum and Early Years Framework and is supplemented by Reach Science Curriculum. Together, our curriculum has been sequences and constructed to ensure all learners are provided with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed during their time at primary school and prepare them for high school and wider society.

In Early Years, children begin exploring science through both indoor and outdoor provision alongside focus sessions. Children’s curiosity about the natural word is encouraged and practitioners in our Early Years setting use this to plan their provision.

Across both Key Stage 1 and 2, science lessons are taught weekly and cross-curricular links are made where appropriate. Staff are equipped with the appropriate subject knowledge in order to support and challenge all learners. The Reach curriculum supplements this by offering a range of resources, appropriate questions and challenges. Our science leader, plans in opportunities for children to participate in investigations; our curriculum make a clear distinction between substantive knowledge (scientific knowledge) and conceptual understanding of disciplinary knowledge (working scientifically). Our science curriculum at Towngate provides opportunities to develop learning through oracy; all children are able to access our curriculum and make positive gains in their learning.

Implementation

Science at Towngate Primary Academy is taught well, ensuring that pupils are given the opportunity to become confident in recalling substantive knowledge and disciplinary knowledge.

During a science lesson, teachers follow the Rosenshine’s principles, to support children knowing more and remembering more. Through this model: children recap previously taught vocabulary and learn new vocabulary through flashcards; learning reviews allow children to revisit previous learning; scaffolding supports learners understanding of new concepts; and feedback ensures misconceptions are addressed and children’s learning continues to progress. Opportunities are planned for children to work scientifically and participate in investigations and experiments where appropriate. Teachers use a range of questioning techniques to promote oracy in the classroom, supporting all learners to progress in their science learning. The use of formative assessment allows teachers to clearly identify gaps in learning and any misconceptions, which are then addressed through learning reviews. Our learning walls, in classrooms, are specific to our science topics and are used in lessons to highlight key vocabulary and knowledge.

Impact

The impact of science at Towngate Primary Academy is measured in a range of ways; the science leader completes monitoring throughout the academic year, which involves work sampling, lesson observations, learning walks and pupil voice. This monitoring will show pupils are confident to talk about both the substantive and disciplinary knowledge in science, recall vocabulary and that during lessons, children are demonstrating a progression of understanding.

The use of formative and summative assessments allows teachers to clearly identify gaps in learning and any misconceptions, which are then addressed through learning reviews.

Pupils’ at Towngate gain cultural capital through opportunities to develop their curiosity through carefully planned lessons involving experiments or investigations, the exposure to a range of scientific skills and knowledge raises pupil’s aspirations to become budding scientists and  ensures they are ready for high school and wider society.

Please visit our twitter feed to see what we are learning across the school in science:

#ScienceTPA