The Annunciation Catholic Junior School

Science

At the Annunciation Catholic School, our Science curriculum fosters within our children a curiosity in the world around them and stimulates all pupils to develop an awe and wonder of science. Children are encouraged to ask questions and develop their curiosity about their surroundings and a love of science is nurtured through an enriched science curriculum. From EYFS, through to KS1 and KS2, we deliver a curriculum which enables pupils to secure and build upon the foundational knowledge and understanding of key scientific concepts. Pupils learn through a vast range of practical opportunities and as they progress throughout the school, develop greater independence in carrying out their own enquiry-based skills. Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that these are systematically developed throughout the children’s school career, while new concepts are introduced in a specific order to ensure a clear and consistent progression of skills and knowledge. This enables pupils to develop a secure understanding of each unit of knowledge before progressing to the next stage. Prior learning and existing knowledge ensures that teaching is informed by the children’s starting points. In this way, pupils are able to make the connections which piece their together their learning together throughout their learning journey.

High-quality resources are used in lessons to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge and learning is complemented by a range of additional experiences, such as extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors. Our curriculum also takes into account pupil voice, incorporating children’s interests and strengthening opportunities for children to connect their learning to the world around them. Science is considered within all subjects and within all aspects of school life at The Annunciation, with our children taking delight in making observations about phenomena in their daily lives, as well as in their lessons. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them and share their real-life experiences. We facilitate children’s curiosity through a vast range of engaging learning experiences, and strive to enrich the cultural capital of all learners by delivering an engaging curriculum with a broad range of opportunities, so that our children  learn through varied and first-hand experiences of the world around them. Regular events such as Science Week are celebrated throughout the school with a range of additional cross-curricular learning experiences.

Pupils speak enthusiastically about science and are able to articulate and share their understanding, drawing upon an ever-expanding range of technical vocabulary to explain key concepts with accuracy and precision. Our school develops confident scientists who can work both independently and collaboratively to conduct science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them. We develop their ability to explain some of the implications of science, today and for the future. Our children are inquisitive and have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Pupils explore key scientists and their ideas, and learn how their role in STEM has had a significant impact on society. With exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving. They develop a sense of responsibility for our planet and the knowledge to be able to best care for it. As well as providing children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world, children learn the possibilities for careers in STEM through our celebration of science throughout our school.