At SJMS, our vision is to give our KS2 children a science curriculum which enables them to explore and discover the world around them confidently, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. To achieve this, it involves exciting, practical hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning.
Our aim is that these stimulating and challenging experiences help children secure and extend their scientific knowledge and vocabulary.
We believe that these opportunities will ensure that our children are confident, life-long learners who will explore the world around them.
At SJMS, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our science teaching offers opportunities for children to:
- Our principal aim is that children leave us with a wide range of happy and rich memories in science formed through interesting and exciting experiences driven through vehicles that enhance a child’s awareness of their own abilities and strengths as a learner; thus ensuring that children see learning in Science as an ongoing process not a one-off event.
- Children will meet the National Curriculum expectations in science, which will be taught by highly-qualified staff, who will support children to develop mastery of concepts and inspire enthusiasm and interest in the subject.
- All children in KS2 will study science for 3 hours per week.
- Opportunities will exist for children of all ages to experience learning beyond the classroom (e.g. Space Week, STEM Week, Saving Ratty Project at Kielder) and this will allow them to enrich their knowledge and experiences.
- Children will develop a deep understanding of the subject they are studying. They will increasingly use their prior knowledge to solve problems and develop the sophistication of science.
- Children will understand how Catholic virtues and British Values relate to science.
- In Science, children will develop the skills to appropriately use and select research and sources.
- Children will develop a real understanding and appreciation of the world learning from the best that has been developed and said.
Ultimately, we endeavour to ensure that the science curriculum we provide will give our KS2 children the confidence and motivation to continue to further develop their skills into the next stage of their education career and life experiences. From the beginning of KS2, one of our aims is to enable KS2 to be “Key Stage 2 ready”. To facilitate this, during KS2, we want all of our pupils to experience not only a broad and balanced science curriculum but to also to the develop skills that will enable them to become responsible and fully developing their skills of independent learning, their scientific knowledge, understanding and skills so that they are fully prepared for KS3. Wherever possible, we also look to our science curriculum to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, aesthetic and physical development of our pupils, and to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of the next stage in their lives.