At Walkington Primary School in science we want our children to develop an enquiring mind and analytical thinking skills, through an interesting and relevant enquiry-based thematic science curriculum. Science changes our lives in many different ways and learning about scientific knowledge, methods, processes and uses provides the foundations for understanding the world in which we live.
We study a varied curriculum which is carefully planned to build on knowledge year by year and covers the three scientific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
At its core, we see our science curriculum as a vehicle for helping our children understand the world (and universe!) around them, and the impact they themselves can have upon that world. It will foster a sense of curiosity and excitement about progress and possibilities, and help them appreciate and support the increasingly fragile and vital ecosystems that connect us to the rest of our natural world. Their ability to understand the remote and abstract by carefully engaging with the practical will be of high value in many possible future career choices, and they will grow to regard scientific advancement as a most worthy and worthwhile human endeavour.
The 5 key blocks of pupil understanding that drive this ambition are:
- Ethical collaboration across the global scientific community is likely to provide possible solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the coming years
- Scientific ideas and breakthroughs are often the result of the planned refinement and development of current ideas, incorporating failure, trail and error and unexpected results – and hard work!
- Science has taught us a huge amount and helped us understand the world we see around us, however there is still a huge amount to be learnt and discovered – indeed, history suggests that we don’t really know what we don’t yet know
- Most scientific advancements are very small, incremental shifts built upon the study and deepening understanding of our existing knowledge, with the occasional ‘eureka’ moment providing a significant breakthrough
- Whatever our strengths and interests, having a broad general understanding of science is highly likely to enhance our experiences of, and contribution to, our time on planet Earth.
The school recognises that each pupil will be at a different point in terms of their understanding of these key blocks by the time they transition to KS3; to fully understand and interlock these concepts requires maturity and a broad range of experiences, however we are committed to providing a learning pathway which amplifies these key messages in an age appropriate and sensitive manner. This intention also aligns closely with our aim of promoting the “Global Competencies” outlined by the OECD.
