Science is all around us!

At Edenbridge Primary School we believe that scientific investigation is one of the most powerful ways to learn; developing curiosity and perseverance as well as challenging what we know about the world. Science should stimulate and develop an attitude of curiosity and questioning as well as developing substantial scientific knowledge. We aim to make science as practical as possible, linking it to real life contexts and giving a meaning to our learning.

Science lessons are open ended and practical in nature, allowing children to use a wide range of resources to lead the learning and make their own discoveries. Lessons aren’t just limited to the classroom… we make use of our outdoor facilities, including the field and playground, in order to maximise the children’s learning experiences. This allows children to develop the key skills of investigation, problem solving and team work; empowering children to question the world around them and become scientific thinkers. We also believe that cross curricular links and access to outside influences, such as trips, visiting experts and professionals, lead to developing aspirations for our pupils. By learning to develop scientific skills, pupils can build on these and see how they can be used in career opportunities, raising their aspirations for the future.

The National Curriculum provides structure and skills progression for the Science curriculum taught throughout the school. This is linked, where possible, to the themed topics providing a creative scheme of work, which reflects a balanced program of study. We follow the International Primary Curriculum linked to themes from the National Curriculum. Children are fully immersed into their Science topics creating knowledge harvests, taking part in innovative, exciting experiments; developing their enquiry and observation skills. At the end of each topic, children are able to show how they feel they achieved in each topic by using a self-assessment ‘traffic light’ system. Class teachers also monitor how children have grasped the concepts, using an Academy-wide assessment tool. Children also have the opportunity to share their new knowledge and celebrate the topic through an inventive and stimulating ‘exit point’.

At Edenbridge Primary we follow the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Some topics are cross curricular and include science teaching within, whilst others, for example ‘Bright Sparks’, is a science specific unit. Children are fully immersed into their Science topics creating knowledge harvests, taking part in innovative, exciting experiments, developing their enquiry and observation skills. Knowledge is built on as the children progress through each year group, giving children a deep understanding of each topic.

Planning, recording, predicting, testing, interpreting results and proposing further investigations are the essence of science and together with suitable practical “hands on” experience, will be meaningful and enjoyable to the pupils. Science is celebrated through a range of events throughout the year such as the annual Science Week events. These events allow children to become immersed in areas across science, technology, engineering and maths.

The National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future

As well as these, Edenbridge Primary School aims to:

• develop pupils’ enjoyment, excitement and interest in science through enriching activities
• build on pupil’s curiosity of the natural world
• use a planned range of investigations and practical activities to give pupils a greater understanding of the concepts and knowledge of science
• develop pupils’ basic practical skills and their ability to make accurate and appropriate measurement
• introduce pupils to scientific language and vocabulary
• demonstrate how their learning links to the wider world and environment