Gorsewood Primary School ‘Dream, Believe, Achieve’

Science - 'Every Child a Scientist'

At Gorsewood Primary School, we want every child to see themselves as a scientist. Through our exciting science curriculum, supported by the Developing Experts scheme, children are encouraged to explore, investigate and question the world around them.

Our Vision for Science

We believe that all children should experience a rich, broad and engaging science curriculum that develops their knowledge, skills and understanding of the world around them. We aim to nurture children's natural curiosity and provide opportunities for them to investigate, discover and think critically.

Science helps children make sense of everyday life. From understanding how plants grow to discovering how the human body works and exploring the wonders of space, science inspires curiosity and develops important skills such as problem-solving, resilience and critical thinking.

How We Teach Science

Science is taught through the National Curriculum and enhanced through the Developing Experts scheme, which provides engaging lessons, high-quality resources and exciting opportunities for investigation and enquiry.

Learning is carefully planned to ensure knowledge and skills build progressively as children move through school. Lessons include opportunities for children to:

Ask questions and investigate their own ideas.
Observe changes and patterns over time.
Carry out practical investigations and experiments.
Gather, record and interpret information.
Use scientific vocabulary accurately.
Apply their learning to real-life situations.

Practical learning plays a key role in our science curriculum, allowing children to develop confidence and enthusiasm while working scientifically.

More information about our scheme can be found here: https://www.developingexperts.com/approach

Meeting the Needs of All Learners

At Gorsewood Primary School, we believe that every child can succeed in science. Lessons are carefully adapted to ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum and achieve their full potential.

Teachers use a range of strategies to support and challenge learners, including:

High-quality questioning to deepen understanding.
Practical and hands-on activities that engage all learners.
Pre-teaching and the use of scientific vocabulary to build confidence.
Visual resources, models and demonstrations to support understanding.
Appropriate scaffolding to help children achieve success.
Opportunities for challenge and deeper thinking for pupils who are ready to extend their learning.
Additional support and adaptations where needed to ensure every child can fully participate and make progress.

By creating an inclusive learning environment, we ensure that all children develop scientific knowledge, skills and confidence, regardless of their starting point. We celebrate curiosity, encourage questions and support every child in seeing themselves as a successful scientist.

Developing Scientific Knowledge

As children progress through school, they develop their understanding of the three main disciplines of science:

Biology - learning about living things and their habitats, plants, animals and the human body.
Chemistry - investigating materials, their properties and how substances can change.
Physics - exploring forces, electricity, sound, light, Earth and space.

Through the Developing Experts scheme, children are introduced to new concepts in an engaging and accessible way, helping them retain knowledge and make meaningful connections in their learning.

Science and Future Careers

We want children to understand that science is not just a subject taught in school; it is an important part of everyday life and many future careers.

Throughout their time at Gorsewood, pupils learn about significant scientists and innovators and discover how science is used in careers such as:

Medicine and healthcare
Veterinary science
Engineering
Environmental science
Technology and computing
Space exploration
Research and innovation

What We Aim for Our Children to Achieve

By the time children leave Gorsewood Primary School, we want them to:

Have a secure understanding of scientific knowledge and concepts.
Be confident in asking questions and carrying out investigations.
Apply scientific skills across the curriculum and in everyday life.
Understand how science has shaped the world around us.
Recognise the importance of evidence when reaching conclusions.
Develop a lifelong interest in science and discovery.
Understand the wide range of opportunities and careers that science can offer.

Science in Action

We are proud of the practical and memorable experiences our children enjoy in science. From classroom investigations and outdoor learning to STEM projects and enrichment activities, pupils are encouraged to think, explore and discover.

Take a look at the photographs below to see some of the exciting science learning taking place across our school.