Science
Science Curriculum Intent
Our science curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world around them through a strong foundation of scientific knowledge and enquiry skills. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, carry out investigations and explain the phenomena they observe, developing secure understanding across biology, chemistry and physics. The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that new learning builds on prior knowledge, enabling pupils to form meaningful connections and develop scientific reasoning. Key knowledge and vocabulary are revisited through intelligent repetition to support long-term retention and fluent retrieval.
Strong foundations are established in the early years through exploration and observation of the natural world. As pupils progress through the school, they develop increasingly sophisticated scientific understanding and confidence in working scientifically.
Our science curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, designed to be accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND and those who may face barriers to learning. By the end of primary school, pupils will have a secure body of scientific knowledge, a rich scientific vocabulary and the confidence to think and talk scientifically about the world around them.
Science Subject Overview
The science subject overview provides an overview of the units taught in each year group across the academic year. It shows how scientific knowledge is organised and revisited to support progression and retention over time.
How Science is Taught
Our science curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils build scientific knowledge and skills progressively over time. New learning is explicitly linked to prior knowledge, enabling pupils to make meaningful connections and deepen their understanding.
Science is taught through clear explanations, practical experiences and opportunities for pupils to ask questions, investigate and explain their thinking. Key knowledge and vocabulary are revisited regularly to support retention and fluent retrieval.
Strong foundations are established in the early years through exploration and discussion of the natural world. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND, through structured support, practical resources and appropriate adaptations so that all pupils can engage with the same learning.
Adaptive Teaching
Our science curriculum is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND. Learning is carefully structured so that pupils can experience and explore scientific concepts through practical, hands-on activities before moving towards more abstract explanations.
Teachers model each stage of scientific enquiry clearly, supporting pupils to observe, investigate and record their findings with increasing confidence. Scientific vocabulary is introduced explicitly and, where appropriate, pre-taught to support understanding during enquiry work. Practical tasks are thoughtfully organised, including supportive grouping and adaptations to experiments to ensure safety and meet sensory or physical needs.
Where needed, pupils are supported through reasonable adjustments such as additional scaffolding, adult support or alternative ways to demonstrate understanding, including oral explanations, photographs or recorded responses. These adaptations ensure that all pupils can access the same curriculum and achieve well.
Impact
The impact of our science curriculum is that pupils develop a secure and coherent understanding of key scientific concepts and are able to use scientific vocabulary accurately to explain their thinking.
Pupils are confident to ask questions, make predictions and take part in scientific investigations, applying their knowledge to observe, test ideas and draw conclusions. As they move through the school, pupils demonstrate increasing independence in working scientifically and can make meaningful connections between different areas of science.
By the end of primary school, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education, with the knowledge, skills and curiosity needed to engage successfully with science in Key Stage 3 and beyond.
Science Enrichment
Scientific learning is enriched through planned experiences that deepen pupils’ enquiry skills and bring science to life beyond the classroom. Each year, the school holds a dedicated Science Week where pupils step away from the usual curriculum sequence to further develop their ability to ask questions, investigate ideas and apply scientific thinking in meaningful contexts.
In the early years, children enhance their understanding of the natural world through hands-on experiences, including visits from specialist providers such as Teach Rex, who deliver immersive learning linked directly to the science curriculum.
This year, pupils in Year 1 to Year 6 are taking part in a whole-school science enrichment programme in partnership with Chester Zoo, focused on UK wildlife. All pupils will participate in a series of curriculum-linked workshops in school, followed by a workshop visit to the zoo. As part of this project, all pupils will attend the zoo free of charge and will also receive a family ticket to support continued learning beyond school.