Science

Curriculum Intent Statement

For pupils to exceed their potential by motivating and inspiring them to understand the world they live in through learning science.

Coherent curriculum – entering St Helena School sets ALL pupils on an appropriate and rigorous five year individual learning pathway that builds on previous experiences of science (including the KS2 curriculum through close liaison with primary schools) while qualifying them for post-16 education.

Knowledge

At St Helena School, all teachers of science are experts in their discipline. No matter what science teacher a pupil has, the experience of science will be consistent.  This is due to collaborative planning and sharing of resources leading to a rigorous knowledge-based curriculum with breadth and depth. Development and use of specialist resources ensure SEND and disadvantaged pupils have full access to the curriculum. Marking closely follows the Marking Policy of St Helena School and includes regular checks in books to feed into teacher planning to ensure stretch and challenge for all.   

Skills

Pupils will develop resilience, independence, numeracy, oracy and literacy skills through science. They will apply these transferable skills to science using specialist vocabulary to describe and explain concepts, hypothesise, plan, analyse data, describe trends and patterns as well as evaluating processes fluently. The development of skills will ensure access to exam questions. 

Practical work

Science is a practical based subject. The more integrated and purposeful practical science a pupil participates in or observes, the more ‘awe and wonder’ is stimulated and curiosity nurtured. This will cause pupils to develop into life-long learners. 

Thinking

Frequent exposure to new concepts and questions throughout the five year individualised learning pathway enables pupils to develop critical and logical thinking. Homework forms an important part of this development. Setting of homework in science closely following the Homework Policy of St Helena School. 

Imagination

All pupils have access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) in class and extra-curricular, as part of the science curriculum. STEM is central to the learning of science. It enables pupils to develop the creative and imaginative aspects of their character which can lead to new inventions and discoveries that could advance humankind.