“The more we expect of ourselves and one another,
the more we can achieve”

Science

At Staplehurst we prioritise practical science. We believe it is absolutely imperative that children get hands on and experience the wonderful world of science themselves. It is important to give them that WOW factor which will engage them and have the children learning without even realising it. Additionally, we also place huge importance in scientific skills as well as knowledge. Just as it is important for the children to have basic scientific knowledge by the end of primary school. They also need to have the skills required to plan and carry out investigations and analyse the results from these. These skills are central to their continued scientific development so are a real focus for our teachers.

At Staplehurst School we are passionate about our knowledge-rich science curriculum and understand that science education provides our pupils with the key foundations in order to make sense of the world that they live in. We aim to develop our pupils’ knowledge across all scientific disciplines from EYFS to Year 6. This is achieved through the delivery of a bespoke curriculum relevant to our pupils. Every pupil is provided with the opportunity to progress in their knowledge, skills, key vocabulary and concepts. Staplehurst School ensures that pupils have access to high-quality science teaching which is made fully accessible to all. They are supported and encouraged to strive to reach their maximum potential. Pupils can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through the completion of carefully designed tasks which enable them to collect, organise and then integrate their new knowledge whilst drawing upon prior learning.

Working Scientifically Objectives are embedded throughout the curriculum to ensure pupils have a range of approaches they can draw upon in order to answer relevant scientific questions. This includes making systematic and careful observations, gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways as well as setting up, carrying out and writing up scientific enquiries. At Staplehurst School we empower our pupils to be curious and independent learners through conducting scientific enquiries. Pupils are given opportunities to learn and develop new practical skills from prior scientific inputs in order to answer enquiry questions within each unit of learning.

We provide a high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum which exposes our pupils to essential knowledge, methods, processes and concepts, which they continuously build upon as they progress through the school. Our aim is to promote a thirst for knowledge and a love of science in our pupils; we want them to be able to understand, be confident and curious enough to ask questions about their surroundings and the wider world.

Overview of Science

Please click on the link to see Science at Staplehurst

Science Curriculum

We use the Kent science scheme to ensure that we are meeting all the required national curriculum objectives. The topics covered in each year group are listed below.

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Year 1	Keeping Healthy Animal classification	Animals Classification Animal Habitats Materials and their uses Seasonal Changes	Plants and Growth Seasonal change	Materials	Transport	Transport
Year 2	Animals and Humans	Materials Light	Habitats	Food Chains	Plants	Life cycles
Year 3	Rocks	Light	Forces	Animals including humans	Animals including humans	Plants
Year 4	Electricity	Animals including humans	Animals including humans	States of matter	Living things and their habitats	Sound
Year 5	Earth and Space	Material Changes	Forces	Animals including humans	Living things and habitats	Animals including humans.
Year 6	Electricity	Light	Evolution and inheritance	SATS KINGSWOOD	Animals including humans	Living things and habitats.

EYFS

In the Early Years, Science is covered under the understanding the world development strand. Through play based activities children explore many areas of science including living things, materials and forces.

Science Opportunities

We endeavour to participate in as much science as we possibly can in and out of school. So far this year, we have tried out the Empiribox science scheme in KS2 where we managed to bring some very exciting experiments and investigations to our classrooms. Plus, we have taken part in the High Weald Science challenge where we came 2^nd.