At St Augustine’s RC Primary School, our intention is that every child becomes a curious, knowledgeable and confident scientist, equipped with the skills to investigate, question and understand the world that God created. Through a rich and engaging science curriculum, pupils develop a sense of wonder about the natural and physical world whilst building the knowledge and skills needed to flourish in an ever-changing society.
Our Science curriculum is based on the National Curriculum programmes of study for each year group and is carefully sequenced to ensure that knowledge and skills build progressively over time. We encourage pupils to think, work and communicate as scientists through practical investigations, enquiry-based learning and opportunities to apply their understanding to real-life contexts.
We aim to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop curiosity about the world around them and confidence to ask questions.
- Build secure and connected scientific knowledge and understanding.
- Develop scientific enquiry skills, enabling them to predict, observe, test, analyse and draw conclusions.
- Use scientific vocabulary accurately when explaining their ideas and findings.
- Recognise the importance of science in everyday life and understand its contribution to past, present and future developments.
- Appreciate the awe and wonder of God's creation and understand their responsibility to care for the world around them.
- Develop resilience, independence and critical thinking through practical investigation and problem-solving.
Our curriculum nurtures a love of science, encourages pupils to be reflective and inquisitive learners, and enables them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for future learning and life beyond primary school.
Implementation
Science at St Augustine’s RC Primary School is taught through carefully sequenced units of learning that build knowledge, skills and understanding progressively from EYFS to Year 6. Our curriculum is designed to develop inquisitive learners who ask questions, think critically and develop a deep understanding of the world that God created. Scientific knowledge and working scientifically skills are taught together, enabling pupils to develop as confident and capable scientists.
Pupils are provided with:
- Hands-on practical investigations to explore scientific concepts.
- Opportunities to ask questions, make predictions and test ideas.
- Experiences of planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests.
- Time to observe, record, analyse results and identify patterns.
- Opportunities to draw conclusions using scientific evidence.
- Structured discussion using accurate scientific vocabulary.
- Retrieval opportunities that help pupils remember and build upon prior learning.
Learning in Science is enriched through:
- Outdoor learning and exploration of the local environment.
- Educational visits and first-hand experiences.
- Visitors, workshops and STEM enrichment opportunities.
- Exploration of significant scientists and their contributions to the world.
- Opportunities to apply science to real-life contexts and current issues.
Science is meaningfully linked with other areas of the curriculum, including:
- Reading and writing scientific explanations, reports and conclusions.
- Applying mathematical skills when measuring, recording and interpreting data.
- Using computing to collect, present and analyse information.
- Geography through environmental, climate and sustainability studies.
- Design and Technology through investigation, innovation and problem-solving.
These cross-curricular links deepen understanding, strengthen knowledge and reinforce key skills across the curriculum.
Science and Careers
Career learning is woven throughout the science curriculum so that pupils understand how scientific knowledge influences the world around them and contributes to a wide range of professions.
Pupils explore careers such as:
- Scientists and laboratory researchers.
- Doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals.
- Engineers and inventors.
- Environmental scientists and conservationists.
- Astronomers, geologists and meteorologists.
- Veterinarians, pharmacists and forensic scientists.
- Technicians, programmers and other STEM professionals.
By exploring these careers, pupils develop aspirations for the future, recognise the relevance of science in everyday life and understand how the skills they develop can support a wide range of future opportunities.
Impact
By the time pupils leave St Augustine’s, they will have:
- Developed secure scientific knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics.
- Built strong scientific enquiry skills, including questioning, observing, testing and concluding.
- Gained confidence in planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations.
- Used scientific vocabulary accurately when speaking, writing and explaining.
- Made meaningful connections between scientific concepts and prior learning.
- Developed curiosity, resilience and independence as learners.
- Recognised the importance of science within everyday life and the wider world.
- Developed awareness of science-related careers and future pathways.
Pupil voice, work in books and assessment outcomes demonstrate strong scientific understanding and enthusiasm for learning. Pupils leave St Augustine’s RC Primary School as curious, reflective and knowledgeable young scientists, equipped with the skills, confidence and understanding needed for the next stage of their education and beyond.
Science Curriculum Newsletter
Here are our Science Ambassadors:
