At Abbey Park Primary School, our science curriculum helps pupils to develop curiosity about the world, understand how things work and recognise the importance of science in everyday life. Through the study of science, children develop enquiry skills, scientific knowledge and confidence in exploring and explaining the world around them, supported by our curriculum drivers of sustainability and identity and equity.

What children learn

Our science curriculum is carefully planned to ensure pupils gain a coherent understanding of biology, chemistry and physics through practical and engaging learning experiences. Pupils explore a wide range of scientific concepts and develop understanding of how science shapes the world both now and in the future.

Across the school, learning is built around key recurring ideas such as:

• living things and their environments
• materials and their properties
• forces, energy and movement
• change, growth and sustainability
• observation, investigation and evidence

These concepts are revisited across different topics and year groups so that pupils deepen their understanding and make meaningful connections in their learning over time.

Building knowledge over time

Science is taught in a carefully sequenced way from Early Years to Year 6, allowing pupils to build knowledge progressively.

• In Early Years, children begin by exploring the natural world through play, observation and discussion, developing curiosity and early scientific thinking.
• In Key Stage 1, pupils begin to ask simple scientific questions, carry out observations and learn about basic scientific concepts linked to plants, animals, materials and seasonal change.
• In Key Stage 2, pupils develop a deeper understanding of scientific ideas and begin to explain, predict and draw conclusions using evidence from investigations.

Throughout the curriculum, prior learning is regularly revisited to ensure pupils remember key knowledge and develop secure long-term understanding.

Thinking like a scientist

In addition to scientific knowledge, pupils are taught how to work scientifically. This includes:

• asking scientific questions
• making predictions
• planning and carrying out investigations
• observing and measuring carefully
• recording and presenting results
• identifying patterns and relationships
• drawing conclusions using evidence
• evaluating investigations and suggesting improvements

These enquiry skills are explicitly taught and developed across the school, enabling pupils to think critically and investigate the world around them with confidence.

Language, vocabulary and communication

Developing scientific vocabulary is a key priority. Pupils are taught and encouraged to use subject-specific language such as evaporation, habitat, gravity and adaptation accurately in both discussion and written work.

Opportunities for talk are built into lessons so that pupils can:

• explain their ideas
• discuss observations and findings
• justify conclusions using evidence
• communicate scientific understanding clearly

This supports both understanding and confidence across the curriculum.

Making connections

Where meaningful, science is linked to other subjects to deepen understanding. Pupils explore science through:

• environmental and sustainability themes
• real-life scientific developments and discoveries
• outdoor learning and exploration
• links with technology, engineering and mathematics
• understanding the impact of science on society and the wider world

This helps pupils to recognise the relevance of science in everyday life and supports the school’s commitment to sustainability and identity and equity.

Applying learning

Pupils are given regular opportunities to apply their knowledge through:

• practical investigations
• scientific enquiries
• discussion and explanation
• recording observations and results
• interpreting evidence and drawing conclusions
• problem-solving activities

This ensures pupils are not only learning scientific facts, but are able to use their knowledge to investigate, explain and reason scientifically.

Assessment and progress

Assessment is ongoing and used to support learning. Teachers:

• check understanding regularly through questioning and retrieval
• assess pupils’ ability to recall and apply scientific knowledge
• evaluate how well pupils work scientifically and use scientific vocabulary
• identify misconceptions and address gaps in understanding

This ensures that learning is secure and that all pupils make progress through the science curriculum.

What pupils achieve

By the end of Year 6, pupils at Abbey Park Primary School:

• have a secure understanding of key scientific concepts across biology, chemistry and physics
• can work scientifically by planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations
• use scientific vocabulary confidently and accurately
• can explain scientific ideas and make connections between concepts
• show curiosity, resilience and enthusiasm for scientific learning

They leave primary school as inquisitive, knowledgeable and reflective learners, ready for the next stage of their education.

Inclusion

Our science curriculum is designed so that all pupils can access and succeed. Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all learners through:

• scaffolding and support where needed
• practical and visual approaches to learning
• clear explanations and modelling
• opportunities for challenge and deeper scientific thinking

This ensures every child can develop as a scientist, regardless of their starting point.