Our Science Intent:

‘Roots to Grow and Wings to Fly’

Our intention when planning and delivering the science curriculum at By Brook Valley Primary School is to ensure our school vision underpins everything we do.  We help the children establish roots through fostering a natural curiosity for the subject, whist providing the tools for them to grow and reach their full potential.  We intend to provide a wealth of opportunity for the children to apply their acquired knowledge to practical situations where they can independently develop their findings, question their ideas and think of ways to investigate further.  This is all in line with our school vision ‘Roots to Grow and Wings to Fly’.

It is our aim that all children:

• Feel inspired and engaged by an exciting learning environment which builds on their natural curiosity by developing scientific skills and investigation in conjunction with knowledge.
• Recognise the importance of science in day-to-day life and as one of our core subjects. 
• Deepen and challenge understanding by applying knowledge and vocabulary to plan and interpret scientific investigations
• Acquire knowledge through first-hand experiences.  We want the children to grow as scientists and be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the importance and uses of science in our world, today and in the future.
• Retain knowledge, which they can reapply and build upon as they progress through the school.
• Think independently by asking scientific and probing questions, beginning to use their knowledge to suggest possible answers and grow as confident scientists.
• Read and accurately interpret scientific vocabulary to apply to their writing.
• Develop the use of scientific recording and techniques.
• Make links between science and other subjects.

How We Teach Science:

These aims will be achieved through our curriculum, which builds on scientific skills whilst progressing through school. We have an individual Science curriculum for each year group which is planned around a key question. We intend learning in Science to be through relevant investigations of the physical, chemical and biological aspects of their lives that rely mainly on first-hand experiences.  This will lead to children being equipped to answer scientific questions about the world around them. It is our intention that, through investigative science, children are able to apply and develop the knowledge and vocabulary they have acquired. 

In Year 5 & 6, pupils take part in a Science Fair based around an investigation they have planned and developed independently. They present their findings to the whole school and members of our wider community, including governors and our local secondary Science teachers.

Trips and visits play a big part in supporting the teaching and learning of Science. Pupils at By Brook Valley have the opportunity to visit Cotswold Wildlife Park to further their learning about biology as well as a trip to Langford Lakes to get first-hand experience of classifying wildlife.

Science is in every aspect of life and our main aim is that children develop an enjoyment of the subject by exploring and finding out all about their world through investigative experiences.

Each year group will have a selection of knowledge organisers linked to their Science key questions. They can be accessed via the class page and are available during the term they are taught.

                          Y5/6 Science Fair                                                               Y5/6 Visit to Langford Lakes