What is our aim in teaching Science?

We want children to be curious about the world around them. Science helps pupils ask questions, test ideas, and understand how things work. Our aim is for children to enjoy investigating, to build confidence in using scientific words, and to see how science connects to everyday life and the wider world.

How does our curriculum work?

We follow the White Rose Science scheme, which covers all areas of the National Curriculum from Year 1 to Year 6.

Learning is broken down into small steps, so children know exactly what to focus on.
Each step includes practical activities to make learning hands-on and memorable.
Children also explore enquiry questions (like “What happens if…?” or “How can we test…?”) to practise thinking like scientists.

This approach means pupils build knowledge and skills gradually, with plenty of time to practise and remember.

What are the key principles of our Science curriculum?

Hands-on, heads-on learning – children learn best when they are actively involved.
Small steps approach – each lesson focuses on one clear idea, building confidence.
Practical investigations – experiments and observations help children understand and apply concepts.
Accurate vocabulary – scientific words are introduced carefully and revisited over time.
Sustainability focus – every year includes blocks on climate change and caring for the environment.

How does our curriculum help children to know more and remember more over time?

Knowledge and skills are carefully sequenced. For example:

In Year 1, children learn the names of animals and what they eat (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore).
In Year 2, they explore habitats and how animals survive.
By Year 6, they study adaptation and evolution.

Vocabulary is tracked across the years, so children meet words at the right time and revisit them often. Practical tasks, enquiry questions, and regular reviews help pupils remember and apply what they've learned.

What is taught and when?

Science topics are taught across all primary year groups. Key areas include:

Living things and their habitats – plants, animals, life cycles.
Materials and their properties – solids, liquids, gases, and changes.
Forces and motion – pushes, pulls, gravity, and magnetism.
Earth and space – the Sun, Moon, planets, and seasons.
The human body – health, growth, and systems.
Sustainability blocks – two per year, linking science to real-life issues like recycling, energy, and climate change.

Each year builds on the last, with increasing depth and complexity. An overview of our long-term curriculum planning can be seen here.

How is Science taught in Preschool and Foundation Stage?

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), learning is organised into seven areas of learning, not subjects.

Science is not taught as a separate subject. Instead, it is woven into everyday play, exploration, and stories.

Children learn science through:

Talking about the natural world around them.
Exploring plants, animals, and materials in their environment.
Watching how things change, such as ice melting or seeds growing.
Using simple tools and role play to investigate ideas (for example, pretending to be scientists).

This approach helps children develop curiosity, observation skills, and early scientific vocabulary. It prepares them for Year 1, where science becomes more structured with clear topics, enquiry questions, and experiments.

How much Science teaching happens each week?

Science lessons in KS1 and KS2 last for approximately 40-60 minutes. Lessons are planned across 36 weeks of the school year, leaving space for trips, assessments, and special science events which gives them extra chances to explore and enjoy the subject.

In summary

Science at our school helps children:

Be curious and ask questions
Build knowledge step by step
Learn through experiments and investigations
Use scientific vocabulary with confidence
Understand sustainability and their role in caring for the planet
See science as a subject for everyone