Science
It is our intention at the Althorp Partnership for all our pupils to develop a lifelong curiosity and interest in Science. When planning for the science curriculum, we intend for children to have the opportunity, wherever possible, to learn through varied investigations, leading to them being equipped for life to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them. As children progress through the year groups, they build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge and scientific vocabulary. We also teach them to develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions.
The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. We use White Rose science scheme to help structure the progression of key scientific skills and knowledge across the school. Each lesson has a clear focus and scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with increasing depth and challenge as children move through the year groups. They complete investigations and hands-on activities while gaining the scientific knowledge for each unit.
The sequence of lessons helps to embed scientific knowledge and skills, with each lesson building on previous learning, as well as recapping prior learning and vocabulary. There is also the opportunity to regularly review and evaluate children's understanding.
Children who feel confident in their science knowledge and enquiry skills will be excited about science, show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the real world.