ST PETER’S CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Science

“Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.”

- Mae Jemison, first African American woman astronaut in space

Why not 'Celebrate Science' by reading wonderful books. Please see the book list below via the link:

Celebrate Science Reading List

Science Vision

At St Peter’s, we believe that science is a subject that inspires awe and wonder in the natural world, enabling children to understand the complexity and beauty. Our science teaching encourages children to be curious, to ask big questions, and to explore their place within the world, using their knowledge and skills to make a positive difference.

Intent

Science at St Peter’s is a systematic investigation of the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the world, relying on first-hand experiences and high-quality sources of information. Through scientific enquiry, children develop critical thinking, problem-solving and evidence-based decision-making.

The curriculum is planned and sequenced to ensure that all pupils:

Acquire a secure understanding of key scientific concepts, as set out in the National Curriculum and the EYFS statutory framework (2024).
Develop Working Scientifically skills, enabling them to observe, investigate, hypothesise and evaluate independently.
Build on prior learning through a carefully sequenced curriculum, ensuring progression of knowledge, vocabulary and skills from EYFS to Year 6.
Make meaningful connections between scientific learning, everyday life, the wider world and future aspirations.
Experience inclusive and accessible science, enabling all children to flourish regardless of background or ability, in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and the Equality Act (2010).

Science Policy

Curriculum Design & Sequencing

St Peter’s follows the Snap Science curriculum scheme, providing a clear, progressive structure for knowledge, skills and enquiry.
Snap Science ensures that all National Curriculum objectives are covered systematically, with lessons sequenced to deepen conceptual understanding.
Assessment opportunities are embedded to evaluate both substantive knowledge (what pupils know) and disciplinary knowledge (how they work scientifically).
Knowledge and skills progression documents map learning across year groups, ensuring continuity and progression.
Teachers adapt Snap Science units to link to real-life contexts, local opportunities and cross-curricular learning (mathematics, computing, geography, English).
The curriculum is spiral in design, revisiting key concepts at increasing depth to ensure retention and reinforcement.

Whole School Curriculum Map

Whole School Progression Map

Snap Science Progression Knowledge Overview

Working Scientifically

Working Scientifically is taught through and clearly linked to the programme of study. Pupils use various approaches to answer scientific questions by collecting, analysing, and presenting findings.

Types of enquiry include:

Observing over time

Classifying and grouping

Pattern seeking

Comparative and fair testing

Research using secondary sources

Skills developed include: observing, questioning, predicting, hypothesising, planning investigations, controlling variables, measuring, recording and interpreting data, explaining, communicating, evaluating findings, and researching effectively.

All Working Scientifically strands are explicitly highlighted in our WALTs in purple, helping pupils understand the skills being developed.

These strands are embedded in the Snap Science curriculum, building both knowledge and scientific thinking, and preparing pupils for secondary science.

Working Scientifically Progression Map

STEM Week

Each year, we organise and run STEM Week, a dedicated event designed to support and enrich learning. The week helps young people understand the real-world applications of their studies, illuminates career pathways, and showcases a variety of roles and routes into industry. It also aims to raise aspirations by giving pupils the opportunity to meet a wide range of inspiring role models.

STEM Week Newsletter - February 2025

Knowledge Organisers

For more information about the current scientific topics your children are learning, click on the links below. These organisers contain include key information and specific terminology the children should know by the end of the topic.