St Charles Catholic Primary School

Science

At St Charles, we nurture children’s natural curiosity and encourage them to explore the world around them through engaging, hands-on science. Our curriculum develops inquisitive, critical thinkers who ask questions, investigate ideas, and build a deep understanding of scientific concepts.

What Science Looks Like at St Charles

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, science is engaging, practical and enquiry-based. Our pupils:

Develop curiosity and ask questions about the world around them
Take part in practical investigations and hands-on scientific enquiry
Learn key scientific knowledge and vocabulary progressively across the school
Use scientific equipment confidently and safely
Explore the natural world and develop respect for God’s creation
Understand how science helps us care for the environment and our communities

Through inspiring lessons and opportunities for exploration, we encourage pupils to think like scientists and develop a lifelong interest in science.

Intent

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, we strive to foster pupils’ natural curiosity about the world around them by providing opportunities and skills that enable them to become innovative and critical thinkers who question and investigate the things they wonder about.

We recognise the importance of science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects, we give the teaching of science the prominence it requires. Our curriculum aims to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to explore the world confidently and develop a lifelong interest in science.

Throughout the science curriculum, pupils acquire and develop key scientific knowledge (substantive knowledge) identified within each unit and across each year group. At the same time, we ensure that Working Scientifically skills (disciplinary knowledge) are built upon and developed progressively throughout pupils’ time at school. This enables children to apply their scientific understanding when using equipment, conducting investigations, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we encourage pupils to develop a sense of awe and wonder about the natural world and to recognise their responsibility to care for the environment as stewards of God’s creation. Inspired by Pope Francis’ message in Laudato Si’, pupils are encouraged to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world and to understand how scientific knowledge can help us care for our planet and the communities within it.

We believe that science should be accessible to all learners. Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive so that every pupil, regardless of background, starting point or additional need, is supported and challenged to achieve success. Through adaptive teaching and supportive learning environments, we ensure that all pupils are able to engage in scientific enquiry and develop confidence in their scientific thinking.

Implementation

Teachers create a positive and engaging attitude towards science learning within their classrooms and reinforce the expectation that all pupils can achieve high standards in science.

Science is taught in line with the National Curriculum, ensuring knowledge and skills are developed progressively across each year group. This approach enables pupils to build upon prior learning while revisiting and deepening their understanding of key scientific concepts.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, pupils focus on developing the scientific skills appropriate to their year group through the KS1 Termly Working Scientifically Progress Matrix. These skills are revisited each term, allowing pupils to complete three cycles throughout the school year and embed their scientific understanding through repeated practice.

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage 2, pupils concentrate on a specific set of scientific skills each term:

Term 1 – Planning investigations

Term 2 – Gathering and analysing results

Term 3 – Evaluating practical work

Although these skills are closely linked, they are taught with minimal overlap so that each skill becomes firmly embedded. These expectations are outlined within the KS2 Termly Working Scientifically Progress Matrices.

At the beginning of each topic, pupils are provided with knowledge organisers outlining key learning objectives, vocabulary and facts. These support pupils in making connections with prior knowledge while encouraging them to consider questions they would like to investigate during the topic.

Lessons include both practical and knowledge-based elements to ensure pupils develop conceptual understanding alongside investigative skills. Teachers use precise questioning to assess understanding and identify any gaps in learning so that all pupils can make strong progress.

Through carefully planned lessons, pupils are provided with opportunities to engage in problem solving and practical enquiry. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and use appropriate equipment to discover answers through scientific investigation.

As pupils progress through the school, their knowledge and understanding deepen. They become increasingly confident in selecting and using scientific equipment, recording and interpreting results, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.

Working Scientifically skills are explicitly taught throughout lessons to ensure that these skills develop progressively across the school. New vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching and reinforced through practical experiences.

Teachers provide opportunities for pupils to extend their understanding of the world through outdoor learning, educational visits and workshops with experts, allowing children to apply their scientific learning in meaningful contexts.

Pupils are also given opportunities to take on leadership roles as Science Ambassadors, helping to promote science across the school and supporting enthusiasm for the subject.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access and succeed in science. Teachers use a range of adaptive teaching strategies to support different learning needs and starting points.

These may include:

Pre-teaching and revisiting key scientific vocabulary
Use of visual aids, diagrams, models and practical demonstrations
Scaffolded investigation tasks to support pupils with additional needs
Opportunities for collaborative learning and discussion
Practical activities that allow pupils to explore concepts through hands-on learning
Extension opportunities to challenge and deepen learning for pupils who are ready to progress further

By adapting teaching and providing appropriate support, we ensure that all pupils can participate in scientific enquiry and develop confidence in their scientific understanding.

Impact

As a result of our science curriculum, pupils at St Charles Catholic Primary School develop a strong understanding of scientific concepts and the skills required to investigate and explore the world around them.

Science lessons are engaging, enjoyable and appropriately challenging, supported by a progressive curriculum that builds knowledge and skills over time. Through experiences that inspire awe and wonder, pupils remain enthusiastic about science and continue to ask questions that deepen their understanding of the natural world.

Visitors, workshops and real-life applications of science help broaden pupils’ perspectives and challenge stereotypes, raising aspirations and demonstrating that science is a field open to everyone.

Pupil voice is used to continually develop and strengthen the science curriculum by gathering pupils’ views about their learning and experiences. This ensures that science continues to grow and develop within the school.

By the time pupils leave St Charles Catholic Primary School, they have developed:

Secure scientific knowledge and understanding
Strong enquiry and investigative skills
Confidence in asking questions and exploring ideas
The ability to analyse evidence and draw conclusions
An appreciation for the importance of science in everyday life
A sense of responsibility for caring for the natural world

Pupils leave St Charles with the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to continue their scientific learning and to engage thoughtfully with the world around them as responsible stewards of God’s creation.

How You Can Help at Home

Parents and carers play an important role in developing children’s curiosity about the world around them. There are many simple ways you can support your child’s science learning at home:

Encourage your child to ask questions about how and why things happen.
Talk about everyday science, such as changes in the weather, plants growing, cooking or how household appliances work.
Explore nature together by visiting parks, gardens or natural spaces and observing plants, animals and habitats.
Carry out simple investigations at home, such as testing which materials float or sink, or observing how plants grow over time.
Watch science-related programmes or read books about space, animals, inventions or the natural world.
Encourage your child to think about how we can care for the environment by saving energy, recycling and protecting living things.

By encouraging curiosity, discussion and exploration, you can help your child develop a deeper interest in science and a greater understanding of the world around them.