At Barcroft Primary school, we want our children to be inspired to learn about the world they live in through science and to develop an understanding of natural phenomena. It is important that we stimulate creative thought by encouraging curiosity and sparking interest in the ever-changing world that surrounds them.  We encourage our children to ask questions and to be inquisitive in order to encourage the growth of their substantive and disciplinary knowledge in their journey to become expert scientists. We aim to encourage and nurture their curiosity and enable them to develop a range of skills that enables them to discover and find the answers for themselves through scientific enquiry.

Here at Barcroft, we aim to ensure our Science curriculum teaches an understanding of natural phenomena. It aims to stimulate a child's curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way that they do. Children learn to ask scientific questions and begin to appreciate the way science will affect their future on a personal, national, and global level.  We have several programs to deliver the National Curriculum for science, these are ‘PlanBee’, Twinkl and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Each topic working across these schemes of work offers a sequence of lessons which enables children to ‘work scientifically’ and embed scientific language. Teachers endeavour to include a ‘practical learning element’ within every lesson.

Nursery and Reception have a science program they follow linked to the ages and stages within the Foundation Stage curriculum that encourages their natural curiosity through play and practical exploration. In Early Years, Science is taught through the subject Understanding the World. The children access Science through their play and through adult led activities for a range of topics across the year, as well as in weekly circle time discussions. 

For all pupils from Year 1 to Year 6, Science is a 1-hour, weekly timetabled lesson that enables pupil to make progress through sequenced lessons in which children build upon their learning each year to support successful learning.  Each topic working across these schemes of work offers a sequence of lessons which enables children to ‘work scientifically’ and embed scientific language. Teachers endeavour to include a ‘practical learning element’ within every lesson.

The following units are covered in each year group:

For more information on what your child learns in the weekly Science Lessons, please see the MTP below...

All year groups complete a half-termly scientific investigation linked to their science topic and this allows the children to further develop their practical and written recording skills. These units have also got an English, Maths and Computing element to complete to demonstrate cross curricular links.  English skills are demonstrated in writing science investigations and maths activities vary from drawing charts and graphs to using sorting diagrams to identify categories. Computing plays a big role in science as we have resources such as cameras, digital thermometers, data loggers and the use of laptops and I-Pads to complete research.

Science is growing every year at Barcroft, new and exciting programs and resources are available for the children to access and use. Every year during Science Week in March, every year group takes part in exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities, experiments and investigations. 

Mr J Hanmer

Science Leader