We strive to give our children a science curriculum which encourages them to be inquisitive throughout their time at the school and beyond. The teaching of science follows the National Curriculum. By personalising the Rising Stars scheme Switched on Science, we offer a broad, modern and ambitious science curriculum; one that caters to all our children’s needs. We recognise the deep links that science has with other subjects including mathematics, computing and history.
We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Children will acquire and develop the key knowledge and enquiry skills identified within each unit, across each year group. Keys skills are carefully sequenced to ensure progression throughout the school, working towards clearly defined end points.
Our science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity about our universe, and promotes respect for the living and non-living. Our curriculum is designed to expand and broaden children’s experiences through practical applications; using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently. The school’s approach to science promotes a love of learning, and a love of discovery that children can apply outside of the classroom. Children are encouraged to ask questions, be curious and challenge what they ‘know’ about the world, and about their surroundings.
The careful, rigorous and successful approach to the teaching of science results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science curriculum. We provide children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their Primary education.
Children at Cotmanhay Junior School:
Assessment is teacher-based and formed using formal strategies (e.g. assessment tasks, quizzes, formal marking) and informal strategies (e.g use of concept maps, verbal/written outcomes, reflection tasks). Subject monitoring indicates high expectations, and reflect what pupils have learned to the expected standard. The Working Scientifically Butterfly is on display in each classroom, and allows the subject coordinator to monitor curriculum coverage with working scientifically skills. All learning builds towards clearly defined end of Key Stage objectives. Knowledge and skills will have developed progressively to not only enable pupils to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum, but to prepare pupils to become competent scientists in Secondary education.