Science at Barr View Primary
Science is continually changing our lives and is vital to future prosperity, which is why our intent is for all pupils to be taught essential aspects of both scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding at Barr View Primary Academy.
Barr View pupils are encouraged to inspire, embrace and achieve everyday phenomena: investigating and observing closely the world around them. They are taught to be curious and ask questions about what they notice through observation, pattern identification, grouping, classifying, and comparative and fair testing. Learning provides full coverage of the national curriculum for science, but in addition, the pupils also explore scientific questions around sustainability and the planet, which helps our pupils to develop an empathy for the local and wider environment.
Science is taught in every year group at Barr View, beginning in Reception which starts to develop scientific ideas by following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and the National Curriculum programmes of study for science in Key Stages 1 and 2. We believe that the successful implementation of a small steps approach to the curriculum enables our learners to gain core knowledge and understanding on which they can build firm foundations. Our curriculum breaks down the essential aspects of key stage science into easily digestible chunks supported through the use of the White Rose Science scheme. At Barr View Primary Academy, through experiment, practice and discussion, children gain core knowledge around:
- Scientific vocabulary
- ‘Working scientifically’ skills including systematic and careful observations and following practical scientific methods
- The gathering and interpretation of scientific evidence
- The use of everyday materials and scientific equipment to solve science problems
- Articulating scientific concepts
- We believe that children should be taught science in a way that helps nurture an understanding of the value of scientific skills. We think science learning should be engaging and inspiring.
To raise the level of children’s understanding with an investigative approach to scientific discovery and to deepen their scientific knowledge and skills, pupils at Barr View are given the opportunity to take part in British Science Week each year. A whole week of practical investigations take place across the school. The idea behind the programme is to raise awareness, spark enthusiasm and celebrate science, engineering, technology and maths. Workshops use drama-based approaches to cement existing learning, clarify difficult concepts, challenge thinking and introduce new content. Each year pupils explore particular science strands and investigate roles played in those areas by individual scientists, technologists and engineers.
The successful approach to the teaching of science at Barr View Primary Academy results in an inspiring and engaging science education, that provides children with firm foundations for understanding the world around them. Furthermore, we empower our children in order for them to understand they have the capability to change our world which is vital for our future prosperity. This can be clearly seen in a range of ways, including pupil voice, the quality of their work and their substantial enthusiasm for science.