A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.  Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world's future prosperity.  All pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.  Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about national phenomena. 

We follow the topics outlined in the National Curriculum (NC) with an emphasis on working 'Like Scientists' and working scientifically in a hands on and interactive way.  Through this, pupils are also encouraged to explore the vast world of science, learn about scientists, understand how science can be used to explain the unexplainable, to observe what is occurring, predict how things will behave or change and analyse possible causes.

Early Years
Science at Foundation Stage is covered in the 'Understanding the World' area of the EYFS Curriculum. It is introduced indirectly through activities that encourage every child to explore, problem solve, observe, predict, think, make decisions and talk about the world around them.

Key Stage 1 - years 1- 2

The principal focus of science teaching in Key Stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around them. During years 1 and 2, pupils should be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content:

• Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways

• Observing closely, using simple equipment

• Performing simple tests

• Identifying and classifying

• Using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

• Gathering and recording data to help in answering questions.
   

Lower Key Stage 2 – years 3-4

The principal focus of science teaching in lower Key Stage 2 is to enable pupils to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions. Pupils should read and spell scientific vocabulary correctly and with confidence, using their growing word reading and spelling knowledge.
 

Upper Key Stage 2 – years 5-6

The principal focus of science teaching in upper Key Stage 2 is to enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas. They do this through exploring and talking about their ideas; asking their own questions about scientific phenomena; and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically. At upper Key Stage 2, pupils encounter more abstract ideas and begin to recognise how these ideas help them to understand and predict how the world operates.

For more information please contact the subject leader, Mrs Morris, alternatively please look at your child's class page.

Suggested Links to local places of interest:

https://scienceoxford.com/

https://www.discoverbucksmuseum.org/

https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/
https://www.tnmoc.org/

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/home
 

Suggested links for science learning at home:

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/25821/parents-primary-science

https://pstt.org.uk/resources/curriculum-materials/Science-Fun-at-Home