Science is a core subject of the National Curriculum and pupils at Woodchester receive an average of 1.5 hours of some science activity every week across all key stages. Science is taught weekly so that children are able to build on previous knowledge throughout the term. 

Where possible, we aim to link our Science through a topic-based approach using cross-curricular subject links, for example using ‘Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age’ to link the Science topic of Properties of Materials with literacy and the study of the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age in history.

In addition, through our early years provision, we aim to promote the learning and development of our youngest children and ensure they are ready for Key Stage 1.

The Science curriculum is split into four phases of delivery across the school and follows the National Curriculum, namely:

• EYFS – taught in Ash class.  
• KS1 – taught to Y1 in Ash and Beech and Y2 in Beech class.
• Years 3, 4 and 5 follow a rolling two-year curriculum due to the mixed age classes in Hawthorn and Juniper.  This means that across years 3 and 4, and 4 and 5, each child will receive teaching of all the relevant topics at an age appropriate level, depending on the year they are studying the topic.  Please see the whole school curriculum map for further information.
• Year 6 is a single year class and as such teaching will follow the Year 6 objectives of the National Curriculum.

At times Science learning is directed and at other times a more open-ended enquiry-based approach is used through questions posed by the teacher.  For example, when studying the properties of materials a directed lesson may include the opportunity to test set materials for suitability to insulate a new lunchbox, or an open-ended enquiry such as how best to protect a raw egg so that it survives when thrown off the play fort.  This combination of approaches allows children to apply skills in a range of different contexts and then extend those skills by designing their own investigations.

The National Curriculum also details different Working Scientifically skills that are applicable per year group.  Each of these is taught within a Science lesson as part of an investigation which is either standalone, or linked to the particular Science topic and learning of the day, in order that children are able to explore these skills using practical experiences to strengthen the learning.  These are captured at a medium-term planning level on a weekly basis so that the Science Subject Lead can ensure that all are being delivered.  Children are then assessed against a working scientifically skill at the end of each term.  They are assessed against the expectations for their year group and this is then recorded in the school tracking system.

	Whole School Curriculum Map Science	[pdf 163KB]
	Science in EYFS Knowledge and vocabulary	[pdf 87KB]
	Science KS1 Knowledge and Vocabulary Progression	[pdf 117KB]
	Science KS2 Knowledge and Vocabulary Progression	[pdf 170KB]
	Working scientifically skills and vocabulary progression EYFS.docx	[pdf 83KB]
	KS1 Working scientifically skills and vocabulary progression	[pdf 103KB]
	KS2 Working scientifically skills and vocabulary progression	[pdf 118KB]