Curriculum Intent

At John Burns Primary School, our intent is to:

• Provide a high-quality, broad and balanced science education.
• Secure and extend scientific knowledge.
• Develop working scientifically skills.
• Promote a love of science and inspire pupils to consider a future career in science.
• Equip pupils with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Curriculum Implementation

At John Burns Primary School:

• Programmes of Study are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills.
• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
• Teachers promote enjoyment and interest of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as key scientists within each field. 
• Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
• Children present their findings and learning using science specific language, observations and diagrams.
• In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
• At the start of each Unit of Work children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know.
• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.
• To support teaching, teachers access a range of resources and planning from Herts for Learning.
• Effective use of educational visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance learning experiences.
• Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed.
• Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.
• Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
• Differentiation ensures that all pupils can access the Science curriculum.
• Children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the learning intention with differing elements of independence.
• Assessment is informed by end of unit assessment, multiple choice quizzes, observations during lessons, verbal feedback, pupil voice and work scrutiny.
• Summative judgements (Working Towards/Working At/Working Above age-related Expectations) are recorded in end of year reports for all KS1 and KS2 pupils (EYFS profile assessment - ELG Understanding the World).   
• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths, English and Computing.

Curriculum Impact

At John Burns Primary School, our pupils will have:

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
• Meaningful, memorable learning experiences that will last a lifetime.
• An understanding of their local area, science related industry and careers.
• Experience of meeting and working with scientists from universities and local industry.
• Experience of working with children from other schools in our local area.
• A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.

Nursery Display - Healthy Eating/Tooth Brushing - July 2022