Intent
Science at George Mitchell School is designed to ignite curiosity within students to understand the world around them.
Our Science curriculum allows students to:
- Understand everyday experiences scientifically
- Develop practical and mathematical skills by working scientifically
- Understand the uses and implications of Science in the world around them
- See connections between subject areas and become aware of the big ideas underpinning scientific knowledge.
Implementation
EYFS
Science in EYFS is intertwined with the Early Learning Goals, focusing on the Understanding the World area of the EYFS Curriculum. Children are constantly encouraged to explore, predict, observe, think and problem solve through appropriate questioning and child-led learning. Use of scientific vocabulary in context is modelled and applied in the environment.
KS1
Science in KS1 follows the National Curriculum and is taught for a minimum of 1-1.5 hours a week. Our KS1 curriculum is rich and broad, following the United Learning programme of study. This supports the children to ask simple questions, make observations, perform simple tests, identify and classify and gather and record data.
KS2
Science in KS2 follows the National Curriculum and is taught for a minimum of 1-1.5 hours a week. Our KS2 curriculum builds upon and extends our KS1 curriculum by encouraging students to make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, take accurate measurements using standard units. Findings are recorded and reported in presentations by using drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables. We continue to use the United Learning resources to support delivery of our curriculum.
Assessment
Pupils complete pre-assessments at the start of each unit to baseline their knowledge. During the unit, they complete informal retrieval quizzes at the start of each lesson to support teachers’ formative assessment. At the end of the unit, they complete a post-unit assessment. Teacher assessments, based on National Curriculum statements, are recorded termly on SONAR. At the end of KS2, pupils are assessed as either having met the Expected Standard (EXS) or not having met the standard (HNM). These judgements are sent to the DfE as part of KS2 statutory assessment requirements.