Science

Science Rationale PDF

Impact

At Hawthorns School we aim to help our pupils learn about the world around them and understand the role of science in our everyday lives. Moreover, we aim to prepare our pupils for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.

This is made possible through delivering high quality, interesting and engaging science lessons and opportunities, using scientific contexts to develop and consolidate cross curricular skills in Literacy, Maths and Computing. 

Through developing and extending pupils’ scientific knowledge, understanding and ability to work scientifically by involving pupils in planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations we are able to ensure that all pupils are appropriately challenged to make good progress in science.

Teachers plan and deliver high-quality and engaging science lessons incorporating a range of teaching and learning styles. At Hawthorns,  teacher’s provide opportunities for pupils to learn about science, where possible, through first hand practical experiences. We develop pupil’s research skills through the appropriate use of secondary sources. Pupil’s plan and carry out investigations with an increasing systematic approach as they progress through the school this helps to develop their questioning, predicting, observing, measuring and interpreting skills. Pupil’s engage and learn about science using the outdoor learning environment including Forest Schools.

Implementation

Science at Hawthorns is implemented through a range of exciting, individualised and accessible frameworks. Scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with increasing depth and challenge as children move through the year groups and pathways. Through the implementation of accessible cross curricular and discrete teaching of science children are able to learn and retain the important, useful skills and knowledge.

The progression of these skills is set out in the frameworks provided for the staff to enable scientific learning to be differentiated and accessed at the appropriate level for the individual learners.

Lessons have a clear focus and provide multiple opportunities to embed scientific knowledge and develop scientific skills. There are also opportunities to regularly review and evaluate children's understanding. Through the use of clear, structured frameworks for assessment and schemes of work, the staff are supported in enabling them to deliver high-quality teaching and learning opportunities whilst also allowing our staff to be adaptable in the delivery of skills and knowledge dependent on the needs of their pupils.

Impact

In Science, progress is measured through a child’s ability to know more, remember more and explain more. This can be measured in different ways within our assessment systems the focus for learning being on developing their science skills to show how the pupil ‘works scientifically.’ Attainment and progress can be measured across the school using our Evidence for learning assessment books. Using the assessment books to record against the designated units in the Scheme of work allows science to maintain the subjects profile. 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. Developing the curiosity of pupils through an engaging focus allows science to impact on prediction, observation and recording opportunities.