Science
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea."
- Luke 21:25
Subject Leader: Miss Fisher
Supported by: SLT
Intent
Science forms an important part of our everyday lives and here at St Teresa’s we aim to: promote your child’s curiosity of the world and universe around them; encourage respect for living organisms and their habitats; provide opportunities to think critically and answer their own questions about their physical environment.
In conjunction with the aims of the national curriculum, our science teaching offers opportunities for the children to:
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
- Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- Become equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Implementation- How do we teach science?
At St Teresa’s, we use the White Rose Science Scheme to guide our teaching and help our pupils understand the world through a scientific lens. The curriculum is carefully structured into blocks and small steps that build knowledge over time. Each unit revisits and deepens key concepts, supporting long-term understanding and ensuring children gain secure knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics. Teachers are supported with clear objectives, key vocabulary, suggested investigations, and guidance on common misconceptions, allowing them to teach with confidence and precision.
Our science curriculum includes both substantive knowledge—what children need to know—and disciplinary knowledge—how they learn to work scientifically. Across the school, pupils learn to ask scientific questions, plan and carry out investigations, make careful observations, gather and record data, and draw conclusions. These skills are taught through a range of enquiry types, including observing over time, pattern seeking, comparative and fair testing, identifying and classifying, and researching using secondary sources. The progression of working scientifically skills is built into every unit, allowing children to practise and develop them in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.
Science at St Teresa’s is practical, engaging and purposeful. Children are encouraged to think critically and explore ideas in depth. The White Rose curriculum supports them to connect new learning with what they already know, to revisit important ideas, and to use scientific language accurately and confidently. Through investigations and discussion, children develop a deeper understanding of the world and how science helps us to explain and improve it. As they move through the school, they gain the knowledge and skills they need for the next stage in their education—and for life beyond the classroom. Our science inquiries cover various activities, including observing over time, seeking patterns, identifying and classifying, conducting fair tests, and researching using secondary sources. These inquiries deepen their understanding of science as a discipline, its processes, and methods, distinguishing it from other subjects. Students also gain an understanding of the purpose and relevance of science in both present and future contexts.
Impact- How is progress shown?
As pupils progress through our school, they will understand the relevance of what they have learnt in science in relation to the world around them. Children will have an enjoyment of science and will be able to discuss what they have learnt and how they have gone about their learning with confidence. Furthermore, they will begin to understand the important role that science plays in the sustainability of life on earth. Progress will be clearly seen through looking at children’s books as well as through positive data increases using the school’s data tracker.
Our goal at St Teresa’s Primary School is to prepare our children for their next step in secondary education with a sense of wonder, enthusiasm, and a thirst for knowledge and exploration.
Cleaner Air 4 Schools project - results
As part of the Cleaner Air 4 Schools project, Year 5 learnt about the different types of pollution in the air and where it comes from. Then they conducted a study to measure the amount of pollution at St Teresa’s School by placing diffusion tubes and measuring the amount of lichen spotted around the school.
They fed back their results and learning to the whole school. Year 5 and St Teresa’s School hope to reduce the pollution in our local area by walking, cycling, scootering or biking to school whenever possible. We discovered that idling cars (cars not moving but still turned on) increase pollution and therefore we aim to encourage people to switch off their cars. The school's results and children’s learning can be seen using the link below.
Science Week
St Teresa’s were pleased to take part in the Royal Society Scientific Book Award for another year. The Eco Warriors read the six books and evaluated them on interest, ease of read, and look before picking a winner. We voted for our favourite, which was ‘I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe’ by Stefanie Posavec and Miriam Quick
Y6 Protecting trees and counting the number of cars in our area
Y5 Pollution Monitoring
