THORNTON-IN-CRAVEN C.P. SCHOOL

SCIENCE POLICY STATEMENT

The Importance and Aims of Science:

Science stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. It also satisfies this curiosity with knowledge. Because science links direct practical experience with ideas, it can engage learners at many levels. Scientific method is about developing and evaluating explanations through experimental evidence and modelling. This is a spur to critical and creative thought. Through science pupils understand how major scientific ideas contribute to technological change – impacting on industry, business and medicine and improving the quality of life. Pupils recognise the cultural significance of science and trace its worldwide development. They learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives, the direction of society and the future of the world.

The Science Curriculum:

Pupils are given opportunities to develop their scientific enquiry skills through a variety of meaningful contexts, which include life processes and living things, materials and their properties and physical processes. They are encouraged to explore and ask questions, collect evidence, make observations, make decisions about their work, present their findings in a variety of ways, draw conclusions about their work and to think of other approaches they could use. This is achieved through:

· Main emphasis is based on children developing their skills in scientific enquiry

· Providing opportunities for children to make their own choices and decisions

· Building on the knowledge that children already have

· Encouraging children to take an active role in their learning

· Provide a wide range of experiences for children using as many first hand experiences as possible

· Use of ICT where appropriate

· Using a mixture of individual, paired and group work

The curriculum is based on the Science QCA document, which builds on previous knowledge and understanding. There are six units for each year group from years 1 to 5 and seven units for year 6. A two-year rolling programme of science is operated throughout the school, which is detailed in the long-term plan for science. (See separate sheet).

Assessment:

In Key Stage 1 children are assessed by the class teacher at the end of each term according to the level descriptors contained within the National Curriculum Document. At the end of Key Stage 1 children are assessed by the class teacher and the levels awarded are reported to the LEA as part of the formal assessment and reporting arrangements.

In Key Stage 2 children are assessed by the class teacher at the end of each term according to the level descriptors contained within the National Curriculum Document. At the end of Key Stage 2 children are formally assessed in the end of Key Stage 2 Science SAT’s, these are externally marked and the results are reported back to the school.