At Hethersett VC Primary School, we believe in a curriculum that is broad, balanced and valued across all subjects. Our Science curriculum inspires curiosity, develops understanding and encourages children to explore and question the world around them. We want pupils to develop a sense of wonder about the natural and physical world whilst acquiring the knowledge, skills and vocabulary needed to think and work like scientists.

Science plays a vital role in helping children understand themselves, their environment and the wider universe. Through practical investigation, observation and enquiry, pupils learn to ask questions, seek evidence and draw conclusions based on their findings. 

Our curriculum is designed to:

• Recognise prior learning, provide first-hand experiences and build resilience
• Develop curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Promote purposeful learning, enjoyable experiences and coherent progression
• Encourage children to question, investigate and understand the world around them

We use the Kapow Primary Science curriculum to deliver engaging, progressive and knowledge-rich lessons. The curriculum is carefully structured to develop scientific knowledge, enquiry skills and an understanding of how science impacts everyday life, ensuring children build secure foundations in biology, chemistry and physics. 

Our Curriculum Approach

Science forms part of our carefully planned foundation curriculum, which is structured around termly themes and three overarching concepts:

• Systems – understanding how living things, materials and physical processes work
• Connection – recognising relationships between living things, environments, forces and scientific ideas
• Change – exploring growth, adaptation, transformation and scientific development over time

These concepts are revisited throughout pupils' time at Hethersett, enabling them to build understanding over time. Learning begins with concrete and observable experiences in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 before developing into increasingly sophisticated scientific thinking and enquiry by the end of Key Stage 2.

Intent

At Hethersett VC Primary School, we aim to inspire pupils to become curious, knowledgeable and enthusiastic scientists.

Through the Kapow Primary Science curriculum, pupils develop:

• Scientific knowledge and understanding across biology, chemistry and physics
• The ability to ask questions and investigate scientifically
• An understanding of how science helps explain the world around us
• Confidence in using scientific vocabulary accurately
• Critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning skills
• An appreciation of the role science plays in everyday life
• Knowledge of how scientific discoveries have shaped society and continue to influence the future

The curriculum is designed around three key strands:

• Scientific knowledge and understanding
• Working scientifically
• Science in action 

We want children to understand that science is not simply a body of knowledge but a way of exploring, questioning and understanding the world.

Implementation

Science is taught through the carefully structured Kapow Primary curriculum, which provides clear progression in both scientific knowledge and enquiry skills from Reception to Year 6. The curriculum follows a spiral approach, where key knowledge and skills are revisited and developed with increasing depth and complexity over time. 

Pupils develop understanding through the study of:

• Biology – living things and vital processes
• Chemistry – materials and their properties
• Physics – forces, energy and how the physical world works
• Working scientifically – investigating, observing, testing and evaluating
• Science in action – understanding how science impacts everyday life and future developments 

Lessons provide opportunities for children to:

• Ask scientific questions
• Make observations
• Carry out fair tests and investigations
• Gather, record and interpret data
• Identify patterns and relationships
• Draw conclusions using evidence
• Communicate findings using scientific vocabulary

Throughout the curriculum, pupils explore how scientific systems operate, how living things and environments are connected and how scientific change influences individuals, communities and the wider world.

Practical enquiry sits at the heart of learning, with children being given regular opportunities to investigate scientific concepts first-hand. Vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited so that pupils can discuss and explain their understanding with increasing confidence and precision.

Cross-curricular links are used where meaningful, helping pupils apply scientific knowledge and skills in other areas of learning whilst maintaining Science as a distinct discipline. 

Impact

The impact of our Science curriculum is seen in pupils who are curious, knowledgeable and confident investigators.

Throughout lessons, teachers use formative assessment strategies including:

• Questioning and discussion
• Retrieval activities
• Scientific investigations
• Observation of practical work
• Analysis of evidence and data
• Pupil reflection and evaluation

These approaches enable teachers to assess understanding, identify misconceptions and adapt teaching to support all learners.

Kapow's assessment materials and knowledge organisers support teachers in evaluating how effectively pupils have secured key scientific knowledge, vocabulary and enquiry skills over time. 

By the time they leave Hethersett VC Primary School, pupils will:

• Have a secure understanding of key concepts in biology, chemistry and physics
• Use scientific vocabulary accurately and confidently
• Ask questions and plan investigations independently
• Gather, interpret and evaluate evidence effectively
• Understand how science explains the world around them
• Recognise the importance and impact of science in everyday life
• Demonstrate curiosity, resilience and critical thinking when investigating scientific ideas
• Be well prepared for the next stage of their scientific learning

Throughout their time at Hethersett, pupils enjoy a rich and engaging science curriculum that encourages them to explore, investigate and discover. They leave primary school with the knowledge, skills and curiosity needed to understand the world around them and with an appreciation of how science continues to shape our future.

Planetarium visit

On Monday 27th June, we were visited by Mark from Starlight Stem who brought along his giant planetarium. The whole school were invited to shows which explored the sun, moon, stars and various planets and their moons. Although it was pretty hot inside, we all learned lots! We  study the Seasons in Reception and KS 1, light and shadows in years 3 and 6 and the main unit of astronomy falls in the year 5 - 'Earth and Space'. Year 5 were invited to bring their parents back for an additional after school session.