Science

Intent

Western House Academy’s science curriculum is built to nurture the natural curiosity of every child. It provides a foundation for asking deep, scientific questions and following focused lines of enquiry about the planet and its workings.

Our mission is straightforward: ensure pupils advance their skills in investigation and critical thinking. Following our values based high expectation approach to learning and behaviour we strive to give the children the knowledge and skills to achieve their full potential through: 

Values

WHA’s core values are deeply interlinked with the teaching of science, fostering both scientific enquiry and wonder. Curiosity is the fundamental spark of science, driving students to ask questions and seek explanations about the natural world. This requires resilience and courage to handle setbacks, confront complex problems, and challenge existing ideas. Honesty is crucial in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Finally, the ambition to improve the world through knowledge, and positivity, motivates our children to pursue scientific solutions to global challenges.

Knowledge

Pupils will acquire a secure knowledge of core scientific concepts. They will use precise scientific vocabulary to communicate complex ideas accurately and effectively.

Equality

We ensure that every pupil, regardless of background or prior attainment, has equal access to a high-quality science curriculum and hands-on investigative work. To challenge preconceived ideas and encourage equal participation from all genders and cultural backgrounds in practical activities and scientific discussions.

Experience

Pupils will experience the joy of becoming hands-on scientists who investigate the world around them. This starts with asking big, exciting questions like "How does a seed grow?" and making their best guess, which is their hypothesis. They'll then act as detectives by carrying out fun, safe experiments using real scientific tools, ensuring they look closely and observe everything that happens. As they work, they will collect their results by recording them, and learn how to check their findings to make sure they are correct and reliable. This enquiry journey concludes with them using the facts they found to explain what happened and confidently share their new discoveries with classmates, demonstrating that they can think critically, test ideas, and answer questions using evidence, just like real scientists do!

Implementation

Western House Academy is built on the belief that science is the key to stimulating pupils' inquisitive nature about the natural world. Our teaching strategy actively promotes environmental understanding and scientific literacy by blending practical and textual learning.

We guide pupils to develop their knowledge primarily through first-hand experience, exploration, and direct interaction with scientific facts. This active approach is paired with a focus on developing precise scientific language. Following the National Curriculum, we deliver the syllabus through engaging practical investigations, which are supported by rigorous knowledge acquisition and research.

In Key Stage 1, children will be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content:

• asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways

• observing closely, using simple equipment and performing simple tests

• identifying and classifying  

• using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

• gathering and recording data to help in answering questions. 

In Lower Key Stage 2, children will be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content: 

• asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them

• setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests

• making systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using a range of equipment, including thermometers and data loggers

• gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions

• recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables

• reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions

• using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions

• identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes  using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings.

In Upper Key Stage 2, children will be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content: 

• planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary

• taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate

• recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs

• using test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests, reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations

• identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.

Impact

The science curriculum at Western House Academy is carefully constructed, age-appropriate, and well-thought-out to ensure clear progression across the three core scientific disciplines (biology, chemistry and physics). If students consistently meet the curriculum's expectations, they are recognised as making good or better progress.

Lessons are highly engaging and feature real-life examples, helping pupils become resilient and resourceful learners. 

We measure the success and impact of our curriculum by observing pupils' independent application of knowledge, using the following key methods:

• Reflecting on the standards achieved against planned learning outcomes.

• Tracking knowledge acquisition through pre- and post-learning activities.

• Engaging in pupil discussions about their learning journey, throughout their learning journey.

We want children to leave WHA feeling confident and prepared to continue their scientific journey, seeing themselves not just as learners of science, but as future innovators who are equipped to engage with and contribute to scientific advancements in the world.