Science

Intent

At Rutherford Houses School, we strive to nurture young scientists through encouraging their curiosity and developing their understanding of how the world works. We have built a curriculum that’s allows all pupils to develop a comprehensive understanding knowledge and confidence to work and experiment scientifically and think critically.

At Rutherford House School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Science teaching offers opportunities for children to:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific scientific themes.
• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them;
• Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
• Develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
• Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, scientific manner, including I.C.T., diagrams, graphs and charts.
• Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
• Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

The National Curriculum will provide a structure and skill development for the science curriculum being taught throughout the school, which is now linked, where possible to the theme topics to provide a creative scheme of work, which reflects a balanced programme of study. This is accompanied with children discovering on each half term specific influential scientists from a range of cultures and background that have excelled in their specific field, allowing ALL children at RHS to be inspired and see the opportunities the world of science holds. The school’s approach to science takes account of the school’s own context, ensuring access to people with specialist expertise and places of scientific interest as part of the school’s commitment to learning outside the classroom. This involves branching out to the wider community of Balham by creating strong links to secondary schools around the area.

Implementation

At Rutherford House School we implement a Science curriculum that builds on prior skills and knowledge year on year. The Science curriculum is designed to be challenging, inspiring, creative, nurturing and encourage active learning.  As far as possible, each topic must have an element which challenges the “Thinking Scientifically” element of the curriculum and focuses on building different aspects of enquiry skills.

At Key Stage 1 pupils observe, explore and ask questions about living things, materials and physical phenomena. They begin to work together to collect evidence to help them answer questions and to link this to simple scientific ideas. They begin to evaluate evidence and consider whether tests or comparisons are fair. They share ideas and communicate them using scientific language, drawings, charts.

At Key Stage 2 pupils learn about a wider range of living things, materials and physical phenomena. They make links between ideas and explain things using simple models and theories. They apply their knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas to familiar phenomena, everyday things and their personal health. They think about the effects of scientific and technological developments on the environment and in other contexts. They carry out more systematic investigations, working on their own and with others. They use a range of reference sources in their work. They talk about their work and its significance, using a wide range of scientific language, conventional diagrams, charts, graphs.

We will collectively achieve excellence in Science through:

• A clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should show progression across all key stages within the strands of Science.
• Children having access to key language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply to their written, mathematical and verbal communication of their skills.
• Children will use a range of resources to develop their knowledge and understanding that is integral to their learning and develops their understanding of working scientifically.

• Clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning should plan for practical investigative opportunities within Science lessons.

• Children will reflect on previous learning and cross-curricular links will be made wherever possible
• Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners.
• Where applicable, links to Science will be made between subjects to ensure high-quality cross-curricular learning.

Impact

 The successful approach to the teaching of Science at Rutherford House School results in a fun, engaging, high quality science education that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education. So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning, and so we provide children with opportunities to experience this. Pupil voice is used to further develop the Science curriculum, through questioning of pupils’ views and attitudes towards Science, to assess the children’s enjoyment of science, and to motivate learners. This ensures that we continue to deliver the highest quality and most relevant Science curriculum. We want every child to see themselves as a scientist and never stop being amazed by the wonders our world has to offer; to carry on asking questions and explore the possibilities open to them.