Science at St Ignatius

At St Ignatius Catholic Primary school we believe science is essential for understanding the world around us and inspiring curiosity, questioning and discovery. Our science curriculum, planned using Grammarsaurus, is knowledge-rich, vocabulary-focused and builds progressively from our Early Years curriculum through to Year 6.

Intent

Our intent is to deliver a high-quality science education that enables all pupils to flourish by developing:

• Secure scientific knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics

• A strong and ambitious scientific vocabulary, enabling pupils to speak and write like scientists

• Curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of enquiry

• The ability to work scientifically by questioning, observing, predicting, testing, recording and drawing conclusions

Through the Grammarsaurus curriculum, learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and build upon prior knowledge over time, supporting concepts to move from short-term to long-term memory. We aim for all pupils, regardless of background or ability, to see themselves as scientists and to understand the relevance of science in everyday life and future careers.

Implementation

Science is taught through blocked units, allowing pupils to immerse themselves in key concepts, knowledge and vocabulary. Grammarsaurus planning supports teachers by providing:

• A clearly sequenced progression of knowledge and skills from Key Stage 1 to Year 6

• Explicit teaching of scientific vocabulary, which is revisited and built upon across units and year groups

• Regular opportunities for hands-on investigations and practical enquiry

• A strong balance between substantive knowledge (what we know) and disciplinary knowledge (how we know it)

Lessons are engaging, practical and enquiry-based. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas and explain their thinking using accurate scientific language. Teachers use ongoing assessment for learning to check understanding, address misconceptions and adapt teaching to meet the needs of all learners. Where appropriate, meaningful cross-curricular links, particularly with mathematics and English, are used to deepen understanding.

Impact

The impact of our science curriculum is that pupils:

• Know more, remember more and can explain scientific concepts with confidence

• Use accurate scientific vocabulary when speaking and writing

• Apply scientific understanding to real-life contexts

• Show curiosity, enthusiasm and resilience when exploring scientific ideas

• Are well prepared for the next stage of their education

By the end of Year 6, pupils leave St Ignatius Catholic Primary School with a strong foundation in science, an understanding of how science shapes the world, and the skills to think critically, ask questions and seek answers as responsible global citizens.