The Subject Leader:
As Science leads at Eaton Park Academy, our role is to lead, develop and support Science across the Academy in relevant and innovative ways. We ensure that all teachers have the subject knowledge, skills, resources and confidence to deliver engaging and challenging lessons.
As Science leads, we deliver CPD within our school to enable us to share beneficial resources, ideas and information with all teachers to support a consistent whole school delivery of Science across the Academy.
As subject leaders, we are approachable, confident and knowledgeable subject leads following regular CPD opportunities and working collaboratively within our trust schools, which includes both primary and secondary sectors. We attend many of the CORE four Science sessions along with many ‘Science Across the City’ projects within Stoke On Trent. As an academy, we have achieved our Bronze Science Quality Mark to celebrate the quality of Science across our Academy.
The Curriculum:
The objectives for Science in KS1 and KS2 are contained within the national curriculum.
National Science Curriculum
Science-Progression-Map
Early Years Foundation Stage:
In Nursery and Reception classes, children are encouraged to ask questions about what they see around them through their topics. The children are given the chance to explore and observe real life events like the hatching of our duckling eggs and the life cycle of the caterpillars as they turn to butterflies. At the academy, we have a fantastic outdoors area where the children are able to explore and develop their enquiry skills as well as in the classroom.
How is Science taught?
At Eaton Park Academy, Science is delivered on a weekly basis within each year band from Year One to Year Six. Where possible, Science is linked to our topics, which are both diverse and engaging. We aim to provide an exciting and stimulating learning environment and resources to inspire children’s scientific questioning and thought processes. This then enables the development of scientific attitudes to question natural phenomena.
Lessons are delivered by the class teachers and provide a range of opportunities for the children to gain hands on experiences by planning and conducting investigations. Science lessons are delivered in a range of settings, including within the classroom, the wider school grounds and through educational visits. We also have links to our local high school where the children are able to explore learning in the science labs.
Assessment for learning:
As a school, we conduct a range of both formative and summative assessments on a regular basis, in order to gain a clear picture of the children’s understanding, progress and next steps for learning. Within in each year band, summative assessments will include a double page spread which showcase what the children have learnt or identify any gaps in knowledge or misconceptions which need readdressing throughout the year. A teacher judgement within Science is also made at the end of each science unit where each child will complete a test paper to reflect on the unit taught.
Science within other curriculum subjects:
SMSC –
During Science children will take part in discussions about world phenomena. During these discussions, the children will be encouraged to respect and value everyone’s opinions and views which is a value of our SMSC curriculum.
Geography –
Topics covered in Science such as Earth, sun and moon, time zones and seasons, states of matter serve to reinforce Geography learning.
History –
As part of each unit of science, children are introduced to significant scientists from the past who have contributed and worked in that particular area of science.
English –
There are opportunities across all year groups for children to further develop their English skills through their science learning. Speaking and listening is an integral part of the way that science is taught, as children are encouraged to ask and answer questions and discuss observations made. Writing opportunities are planned to enable children to apply their skills for a range of purposes. For example:
Writing non-chronological reports about the topic studied, writing explanations of phenomena observed, recording findings using scientific vocabulary. Some texts used within class will also have links with science such as Pig Heart Boy for the circulatory system and The Little Pebble for rocks.
Maths –
Maths has clear scientific links through the Science curriculum where children are using and applying mathematical knowledge in areas such as:
Creating tally charts to collect data, presenting data through block graphs and bar charts, using Venn diagrams to sort and classify objects/animals/materials, using measures to carry out investigations, reading scales when using scientific equipment, understanding temperatures and negative numbers.
Computing –
The children use computing within Science for a number of ways, which include researching and presenting data. Children in KS2 also use digital data loggers within their investigations.
Design & Technology –
In KS1, learning in science is developed through many DT projects including, applying knowledge to devise and create a healthy meal. Properties of materials learning is reinforced when creating structures and mechanisms. In KS2, children make clear links with Science as part of their D&T projects, drawing on concepts such as gravity, friction, light, human circulatory system etc.
Enrichment:
In addition to the EYFS and NC objectives being delivered to the children, there are many other enrichment and wider opportunities provided to enable children to engage with science and to promote and enthuse the passion for science across the school. In the past, children have attended our local Science Week events at the town hall. Here, they work alongside children from other schools taking part in experiments and exploring with new technology. We have also invited MAD Science into our Academy to deliver exciting whole school assemblies to continue to engage children in Science. The local dentist visits Eaton Park each year to share key information about dental health and hygiene. Within the academy,during the Summer term, we run an allotment club which invites children from across the school to maintain our allotments whilst growing their own produce at the same time. As well as an allotment club, the children are also able to attend an experiment club, which runs for part of our school year with the help of the Science Ambassadors. Here, the children were able to take part in a range of experiments and investigations.
Science ambassadors:
Science ambassadors are chosen from Year 6. These children help to look after the equipment used in their Science lessons. The Key Stage Two Science Ambassadors also help to run the Science experiment club for the children at the academy. Due to their enthusiasm towards the subject, the Science Ambassadors represent our school during any Science enrichment opportunities outside of the academy.
Pupil Voice
Isla Year One – “I like experiments like when we tried to see what absorbs the most water.”
Elliot Year Four – “I like how we find out how things work and the different words we learn and use. My favourite science topic is all of them.”
Ronnie Year Five – “I like that in Science we were able to complete our magnet investigations around the school not just in the classroom. It was satisfying that we found magnetic materials around the school.”
Alex Year Six – “I like doing experiments in Science and I have really enjoyed learning about electricity.”
A recent pupil voice showed us that the children were able to talk enthusiastically about their Science lessons, recalling lots of knowledge that they had learnt in class both this term and last. Many of the children were also able to recall our school’s definition for Science and express their views as to what they liked about their science lessons at the academy.
