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Statement of Intent: Science

At Burhill Primary School, our science curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum which states, “A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.” 

The teaching of science at Burhill harnesses pupils’ sense of curiosity and excitement about the world around them. Throughout science topics, pupils explore how science can be used to explain what is happening, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. Scaffolding the learning from the classroom to the field and back to the classroom generates memorable, comprehensive and long-term learning. Pupils share their findings, working to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data.

In Early Years, Understanding the World involves guiding pupils to make sense of their physical world through a variety of exciting topics that put science into context, including themes such as Me and My World, where pupils learn about parts of the body, their senses and keeping healthy.

In Key Stage 1 and 2, biology related topics include living things and their habitats, evolution and inheritance and animals including humans. Chemistry related topics include properties and changes in materials. Physics related topics include forces, light, electricity, Earth and space. By the end of their primary education, pupils will be able to use different types of scientific enquiry to help them answer scientific questions about the world around them. They will be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

Pupils have access to high quality resources, equipment and models to support and enhance their science learning. So much of science lends itself to outdoor learning and at Burhill, we provide pupils with ample opportunities to experience this. This is all done through the use of first-hand practical experiences, in conjunction with appropriate secondary sources, such as books, photographs and videos.