Intent

At Ford Primary School, we believe that children should have the opportunity to be curious about the world around them. Science fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes.

Through the programmes of study in the National Curriculum science document children will acquire and develop these skills throughout their Primary years. We ensure that the ‘Working Scientifically’ skills are built-on and developed throughout a child’s school career so that children learn to confidently use equipment, conduct experiments, build arguments and explain concepts whilst continuing to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

Implementation

At Ford Primary, the teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science covers the physical, biological and chemical aspects of science as well as the natural and environmental.  We aim to make as much of the work as possible experimental in nature and encourage the use of open questions.  Throughout our lessons, we ensure that we integrate the 'working scientifically' strand of science.  This includes observing over time; pattern seeking; identifying, classifying and grouping; comparative and fair testing (controlled investigations); and researching using secondary sources

Impact

The successful approach at Ford Primary School results in a fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world. Our engagement with the local environment ensures that children learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them. So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning and so we provide children with opportunities to experience this. 

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