Science
Intent
Edison Primary School is the first Science Specialist Primary School in West London. Our aim is to pioneer a renewed focus on science. Our longer school days provide us with the opportunity to increase the time given to lessons that fall under the umbrella of science. This helps pupils to develop an appreciation of Science being a part of their everyday lives. The practical learning aspect of our vision enables pupils to cover the Science National Curriculum in greater depth. Time is also dedicated to other aspects of Science: Physical, Environment, Topical Science, etc. right from the time our children start in Reception.
The National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:
• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
We believe Science Education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to our world’s future prosperity, and we believe 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 to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, to predict how things will behave, and to analyse causes (National Curriculum in England Framework Document (DfE) 2014).
We strive to provide a curriculum that all pupils will find enjoyable with them understanding the relevance of their lessons. This can only be achieved by using the experience, enthusiasm and specialism of individual teachers who provide interesting, relevant, purposeful, and differentiated lessons based on real-life experiences, wherever possible, in a structured well-ordered classroom environment.
Implementation
Edison Primary School use ‘Snap Science’ for science. This scheme, developed by Collins Connect and refined by staff at Edison Primary, it provides full coverage of the new National Curriculum, following the programmes of study for each year group carefully. It also provides the right balance between working scientifically and learning scientific facts.
Other resources used are Explorify and Twig Reporter to provide the children with questioning and problem solving. To support teachers with assessment, they can use Plan Assessment.
Snap Science links directly to scientific knowledge, skills and understanding to ensure that learning is progressive and continuous. Snap Science enables children to learn and retain the important, useful and powerful vocabulary and knowledge contained within each unit. The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. At Edison Primary School, teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science, using our Kagan Strategy.
Our curriculum is built around the principle of greater learner involvement in their work. It requires deep thinking and encourages learners to work using a question as the starting point, considering different avenues for further research.
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.
At Edison Primary School, we are fortunate to have two fully equipped science laboratories that are accessible for both teachers and children. The whole school have access to Virtual Reality headsets which are readily available.
At Edison Primary School, science is taught, planned, and arranged, topic blocks by the class teacher. It is taught for two hours a week, one of which is dedicated to Science Experiments.
Our strategy is to enable all children to be catered for through adapted planning suited to their abilities.
We plan problem solving, and real-life, opportunities that enable children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Our planning involves teachers creating practical, engaging lessons with opportunities for precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and assessing children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning.
Our curriculum is progressive. We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years, which is tested through our ‘pre-learning quizzes’ where teachers can identify misconceptions that need addressing.
Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career, and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in keeping with the topics.
Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning and workshops with experts.
Through enrichment days, such as World Science Week, we promote the profile of Science and allow time for the children to freely explore scientific topics.
Each unit of work is linked to a high quality text which runs parallel to science lessons. The texts provide further cross-curricular reading and writing opportunities linked to the context of current science topic. The use of texts engages children and helps create links and make comparisons to their learning in science.
Title pages are used at the start of each new science topic to revisit and assess prior learning, raise questions to investigate and challenge. They also showcase, collate, review and assess new science learning during and at the end of a unit. Children suggest what they would like to learn at the start of each topic and this is to maximise engagement and motivation.
Children have constant access to a wide variety of subject specific fiction and non-fiction Science books, available during lessons, and in the school library.
Children learn in a variety of ways, and so where appropriate, children will learn science outside the classroom. On site we have access to our large playground, vegetable patch, herb garden and plum tree.
We also plan visits to museums and local places of scientific relevance. Children can clearly see things in context which promotes and fosters an emotional connection between children and the natural environment. There is a sleepover science trip where the Year 5 and 6 children spend the day at the Science Museum, take part in a variety of workshops and spend the night in astrology section and sleep under the ‘stars’.
Marking special days such as World Science Week, Earth Day, STEM week, British Science Week, Teachers are well-supported and are continuously encouraged to pursue professional development through internal twilight sessions, observations as well as external training where needs are identified.
Impact
Science at Edison Primary School ensures fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education.
Children are assessed each half term using Snap Science topic tests. Alongside this, mini quizzes are introduced throughout the topics to ensure learning is consolidated. Informal strategies also enable children to demonstrate their understanding, strategies such as: use of concept maps, verbal/written outcomes, reflection tasks/presentations.
Formative assessment is used as the main tool for assessing the impact of Science at Edison primary school as it allows for misconceptions and gaps to be addressed more immediately rather than building on insecure scientific foundations.
Children at Edison Primary School will:
• be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using rich language linked to science.
• demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field
• retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.
• be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• demonstrate a high love of mathematical skills through their work, organising, recording, and interpreting results.
• work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.
• achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.
Within each year group topics include:
To help with our implementation of the Science curriculum we have the following
• Two fully equipped science labs
• 40 laptops for research
• 30 VR headsets
• Allotment
Primary School Quality Mark
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the nationally recognised Primary Science Quality Mark to celebrate our commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning.
The Primary School Quality Mark programme ensures effective leadership of science, enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development meetings led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development in science subject leadership, teaching and learning. Schools that achieve PSQM demonstrate commitment and expertise in science teaching and leadership.
The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.
Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Mark is a significant achievement for a school. The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”
Crest Award
The CREST award is a nationally recognised scheme for student-led project work in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). This scheme is supported and organised by Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London) and Katherine Mathieson (Chief executive of the British Science Association). We have completed the Star and Superstar levels, which are designed for children aged 5-7 and 7-11 years. As we are a science specialist primary school, we would like our pupils to wear their science badges with pride on their school uniform ever year.
