Subject Leader: Mrs B. Gribbin
At Ireleth St Peter’s, we want every child to develop a lifelong curiosity about the world around them. Science provides our children with opportunities to question, explore, investigate, discover and wonder, encouraging them to become confident and enthusiastic young scientists.
Our Science curriculum reflects our school vision, “Inspiring Successful Partnership through God’s love,” by encouraging children to work together, ask questions, appreciate the world around them and recognise their responsibility to care for it.
We particularly value the awe and wonder that Science can inspire. From observing the natural world around our school to carrying out exciting investigations, we encourage children to notice, question and explore the amazing world in which we live.
We use White Rose Science to support the teaching and learning of Science across school. This provides a clear, carefully sequenced curriculum in which children build upon their scientific knowledge, vocabulary and enquiry skills as they progress through school.
Our curriculum ensures children have opportunities to:
Practical learning is an important part of Science at ISP. Wherever possible, children are given opportunities to experience Science for themselves, rather than simply learning about it.
We recognise that some of the most memorable Science learning happens beyond children’s books and classrooms.
We make use of our school grounds, outdoor environment and local area to provide opportunities for observation, exploration and investigation. Children are encouraged to notice seasonal changes, investigate living things and habitats and develop an appreciation for the natural environment.
Science also links naturally with other areas of our curriculum, including Maths, Geography, Design Technology, Computing and our work around spirituality and awe and wonder.
Each year, the whole school takes part in British Science Week.
This provides an exciting opportunity for children across ISP to immerse themselves in Science through investigations, experiments, challenges and whole-school activities.
British Science Week allows us to celebrate Science beyond our usual curriculum and gives children opportunities to explore different areas of STEM, work collaboratively and discover how Science influences the world around them.
We also encourage children to recognise that anyone can be a scientist and introduce them to a diverse range of scientists, engineers and STEM careers.
Working scientifically is woven throughout our Science curriculum.
From EYFS onwards, children are encouraged to be curious and ask questions. As they progress through school, they increasingly learn how to plan investigations, make predictions, observe and measure accurately, record findings, identify patterns and use evidence to explain what they have discovered.
We want our pupils not only to know Science, but to understand how scientists think and work.
We love celebrating children’s enthusiasm for Science both inside and outside school.
Our Super Scientist Award recognises children who demonstrate curiosity, enthusiasm and commitment to Science. This might be through fantastic work in lessons, thoughtful scientific questioning, impressive investigations or bringing their own scientific discoveries and interests into school.
Science is also celebrated through displays and opportunities to share children’s learning across our school community.
By the time children leave Ireleth St Peter’s, we want them to be curious, knowledgeable and confident young scientists who are not afraid to ask why?, how? and what if?
Most importantly, we want our children to leave us with a sense of awe and wonder about the world around them and the skills and confidence to continue exploring it.
