What is our Philosophy?

At The Winchcombe School we believe Science stimulates and excites children’s curiosity about phenomena and events in the world around them. Our vision is to create enthusiastic, confident scientists, with questioning minds and well developed critical-thinking skills.  We recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life.

What is taught?

We provide children with engaging and practical lessons that build on the children’s prior knowledge and develop their working scientifically skills. Investigation and creativity are embedded through every science lesson with a key focus on the use of scientific vocabulary to communicate learning. Children learn to question and discuss science-based issues that may affect their own lives, the direction of society and the future of the world. They are given the opportunity to measure, investigate, observe, report and conclude and gather and record data in a range of contexts.

How is it taught?

Science is taught every term following the National Curriculum programme of study for each year group.

How is progress measured?

Progress is assessed each year against the following aspects:

• Questioning
• Investigation
• Observation
• Report and Conclude
• Knowledge

What does success look like at The Winchcombe School?

By the end of Year 6 children will:

• Ask and answer deeper and broader questions about the local and wider world that build on and extend their own experiences and knowledge.
• Plan and carry out a range of enquiries that answer the ‘big question’. This includes writing methods, identifying and controlling variables, deciding on equipment, making measurements to collect data and make predictions based on prior knowledge and understanding.
• Independently decide which observations to make, when and for how long and make systematic and careful observations, using them to make comparisons, identify changes, classify and make links between cause and effect.
• Report on and validate their findings, answer questions using their subject knowledge to support their answers, justify the methods used and share their opinions and conclusions. Children can identify improvements and pose further questions.
• Build upon prior knowledge and make links across the Science curriculum.