Science

At St John Evangelist our children’s needs are at the heart of our Science offer. We are an inner city school, and so ensure that children have an opportunity to learn outdoors where possible. This is so important for our children’s development, but also engages children more fully in their learning.

We ensure we meet the needs of students with a variety of different learning styles by making sure that our classes are not always expected to write to show their Science understanding, and are also engaged in interesting, fun and challenging Science lessons. Our Science Overview guarantees full coverage of all Science topics on the National Curriculum throughout our mixed year groups.

We use the National Curriculum, our Skills Progression Map, Science Subject Overview and Science Policy to offer our children an education in Science that will have them not only armed with the knowledge and skills needed to be secondary school ready, but also with a love of Science whereby they will be more likely to keep up Science subjects at Secondary level and even pursue a career in STEM. We aim for our children to have access to a range of experiences and people who work in the Sciences, so provide a range of workshops (e.g. Zoolab), trips (Science Museum, Gilespie Park) and visitors (STEM volunteers).

In our school teachers use their professional ability to plan, resource and teach the Science Programme of Study in a way that is bespoke and relevant to our school and to their class. This means our Science offer is much more creative, meaningful and engaging than if teachers were to follow a prescriptive preprepared scheme of work. In every Science topic, teachers ensure that they plan at least one outdoor lesson, using our outdoor learning space to really enhance their real world connections and understanding of the world. Science is taught for at least one hour weekly from Year 1 up in line with our statutory requirement. Our Science books show a variety of different kinds of evidence, clearly demonstrating that our children have access to a range of learning experiences in their Science lessons (e.g. photos of presentations or outdoor learning, science through art or drama, science raps etc.).

Science is taught discretely to ensure both the breadth of coverage and rigour necessary for children to meet the aims of the National Curriculum, however, teachers are supported in making meaningful cross curricular links where possible – for example Year 3 Rocks with our Creative Curriculum Topic “Volcanoes”. Teachers assess using the National Curriculum objectives through Target Tracker, and moderate each other’s teachers assessment of children’s attainment in relation to the working scientifically targets. Children and staff alike enjoy British Science Week at St John’s every March – involving fun experiments in class, workshops, competitions, trips and a Science Workshop with a fun scientist to celebrate at the end of the week.

As a result of our use of the working scientifically assessment tasks, and moderation of teachers assessments of these, we can ensure our judgements are accurate in all years, which is particularly important for Year 2 and Year 6. In 2018, St John’s was awarded a silver Primary Science Quality Mark award which is “For schools which demonstrate how established science leadership is having a sustained impact on science teaching and learning across the school”, and something that we will be renewing in the near future.

Through teachers’ aspirations for our students, and our high expectations of what our classes can achieve, their progress throughout the Key Stages and their enjoyment and engagement in the subject can be seen in the quality of work in our children’s books and in the attractive and stimulating displays and learning environments.

The successful approach results in a fun, engaging, high-quality Science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Through various enrichment opportunities and interactions with experts, children have the understanding that Science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children are exposed to the possibilities for careers in Science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies, such as the STEM association, and learn from and work with professionals, ensuring that children have access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, and the enthusiasm of all our teachers, all children feel they are scientists and are capable of achieving. Children at St John’s overwhelmingly enjoy Science and this results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding.