HOW IS science DELIVERED ACROSS OUR PATHWAYS?
Informal Curriculum - CCA
Science is embedded throughout the curriculum through sensory experiences and exploratory play. Pupils have access to playful activities, including messy play and sensory experiments. Sensory play and exploration supports pupils to examine, discover, categorize, and make sense of the world.
Through continuous provision, staff provide opportunities for pupils to understand the world they live in engaging all the senses. This includes people and communities, the world and technology and to help them make sense of different environments and stimuli of the world around them. Questioning and experimenting in all areas especially during creative work and play are essential tools to ensure progression. Staff always to respond enthusiastically to pupil’s questions and support them to find out the answers through experimentation.
Pupils have opportunities to play and explore with a range of different materials, building blocks, modelling resources and have time to explore and research their interest independently whilst developing language and motor skills alongside scientific exploration.
Semi-Formal Curriculum
Pupils are encouraged to learn about science from their interactions with the environment. Regular activities such as cooking/catering support pupils’ scientific development.
Scientific understanding covers awareness of the properties of objects, observation of patterns in the environment and the ability to collect and organize information
Scientific development covers the development of exploration skills and the ability to observe and describe materials and living things
The curriculum in the semi-formal includes weekly science lessons.
Science helps to develop investigation skills and question what they see, and in some cases to develop and test a theory.
Formal Curriculum - Priesthorpe
Pupils have a minimum of 5 Science lessons per fortnight. From Year 7, all students have access to labs and specialist equipment allowing them the opportunity to conduct experiments and engage with demonstrations and dissections. Science lessons cover Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
In KS4, students have the opportunity to complete an Entry Level in Science and where appropriate, some students will access double award GCSE. Based on options choices, there is also the potential for pupils to access an Entry Level in Practical Horticulture Skills. Throughout Key Stages 3 and 4, students contribute to the maintenance of the school garden, growing and selling vegetables, planting and producing Christmas wreaths.
Formal Curriculum - AIP
At Key Stage 3, Science is taught using a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) approach. It aims to bridge the learning gap by placing students at the core of experience by encouraging active learning. Student study topics such as Rockets, ‘Zombie Apocalypse’, Microbes, ‘Desert Island and The Solar System. Learners are challenged to design, carry out and record experiments to test their ideas and concepts. Teaching methods encourage use of scientific questioning, enquiry and application of scientific vocabulary.