Norristhorpe Junior & Infant School

The science National Curriculum outlines the programmes of study and strands of learning for all pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2. The EYFS statutory framework includes key learning and concepts for scientists across many of its strands. At Norristhorpe, we ensure that all units of science are covered, as stated in the statutory guidance, each year. We follow the new, carefully designed, sequential White Rose Science Curriculum, to ensure full coverage, development of skills and progression of knowledge.  

White Rose Science carefully plan the timing of units of learning to ensure that units are taught at the most opportune times of each academic year. For example, Seasonal Changes is studied in Year One across the academic year, enabling pupils to apply their knowledge and skills to all seasons. Likewise, Plants is always covered within the summer term for Year One, Year Two and Year Three, to ensure pupils are able to enjoy their learning outside the classroom for these units. Plants is also covered in Spring within Year Two and is revisited again within the summer term in Year Three, to ensure that the practical curriculum we deliver at Norristhorpe can happen at the most opportune times, and to enable pupils to revisit and apply their new skills, ensuring that knowledge and skills stick.  

Our curriculum overview shows when all of our units are taught in each year group. Our progression map shows how skills and knowledge are built upon year by year and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.  

Working Scientifically is at the heart of science and therefore runs through all strands within all year groups. Practical investigations and opportunities to develop core working scientifically skills are carefully planned into each year group in a progressive and exciting way. At Norristhorpe, we encourage hands on learning in science lessons as we believe in the phrase, ‘hands on, heads on.’ This ethos was a large factor for us when considering a science scheme to implement within our school: White Rose Science specifically includes enquiry questions for each unit and ensures practical activities are possible in every lesson throughout each year group. We want our pupils to have experience of planning and carrying out scientific enquiries independently or in groups, together with a range of peers. By teaching through a hands-on approach, children are actively participating, rather than being an inactive audience. This helps them to experience scientific concepts first hand and provides them with opportunities to prepare for high school and later life.    

Links to ‘real life’ are often used in science lessons at Norristhorpe to make the learning understandable, accessible and relevant. Children are rarely given an abstract concept. Instead, children are given engaging enquiry questions that link currently unknown scientific concepts to familiar real-life scenarios. At Norristhorpe, we care about the environment and the future of the planet for our pupils. We therefore teach two blocks per year that focus on sustainability. We hope that together, our Norristhorpe learners can make a huge difference to the planet, making all who know them proud of their achievements. 

Science lessons at Norristhorpe allow plenty of time for conversation and discussion as this is key to helping children develop their scientific vocabulary. In addition to allowing pupils the chance to orally explore science, images and diagrams are also used in Norristhorpe science lessons to give pupils visual support. This helps to make the learning accessible for all pupils and helps make the learning stick through the use of memorable diagrams and images. Lessons also incorporate a range of teaching strategies enabling pupils to access independent tasks, paired work and group projects. Computer programmes and online resources are used to support learning and to present information from the White Rose Science Curriculum in a variety of medias.  

Pupils at Norristhorpe are taught about the work of a varied range of inspirational scientists. We strive to ensure that the scientists studied by our Norristhorpe learners come from a varied, diverse mix of backgrounds, encouraging all learners and promoting equality and respect for the scientific work of all individuals.  

At Norristhorpe, we teach science for at least one hour a week, all year round, in all year groups.  

The impact of our science curriculum is constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities.  

At Norristhorpe School, lessons are planned carefully using the National Curriculum and the White Rose Science Curriculum to ensure that assessment takes place in each lesson. Success Criteria is used when planning and a small steps approach is taken. This, along with assessment for learning strategies used within lessons, helps teachers to continually assess the attainment and progress of students in their class on a lesson by lesson basis. This assessment against the small steps and ‘factual knowledge’ from the White Rose Science Curriculum, helps to inform teacher judgement.  

The ongoing teacher assessment is tracked on integris in a distinct science mark book. The science mark book enables the teacher to input a teacher assessment grade for each knowledge area and each working scientific area relevant to that year group. The mark book contains data from Years One to Six, enabling teachers to see prior year group data and track progression through the National Curriculum.  

In reception, teacher assessment is used and evidence is gathered on Tapestry and in floor books. The teacher assessment data is collated on integris and is passed on to the Year One class teachers during transition. Children are recorded as working towards, working at or working beyond in Understanding the World and other key scientific areas of the Early Years Curriculum, providing the Year One teachers with an insight in to each child’s early scientific journey.   

Lesson visits, book looks, staff and pupil voice records and planning checks help to ensure that judgements are accurately made and a consistent approach to assessment is followed across school. 

A Norristhorpe learner will leave school equipped with a range of knowledge and skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be innovative and resourceful members of society.