Science is not just a subject in the classroom; it is a practical, exciting, and vital part of understanding our world. At Denham Village School we aim to ignite a natural curiosity in our pupils, developing their scientific knowledge and skills through hands-on exploration and enquiry. We want our children to become confident, knowledgeable, and excited scientists who can question, observe, and analyse the world around them.

Intent: Why We Teach Science

Our science curriculum is designed to provide the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. We aim for all pupils to:

• Develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and the world around them.
• Acquire essential knowledge and conceptual understanding  to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
• Understand the importance of science in everyday life and how scientific discoveries have shaped our past and will secure our future prosperity.
• Build an awareness of STEM careers and the opportunities available in science-related fields, inspiring future aspirations.
• Develop key scientific skills in observation, investigation, experimentation, and critical thinking, encouraging objective reasoning and problem-solving.

  Implementation: How We Teach Science

  To deliver a high-quality and engaging science education, we implement a practical, inquiry-based approach. Our implementation strategy includes:

• A planned and sequenced curriculum: Using the National Curriculum as a basis, our topics are carefully planned to build progressively on prior learning, ensuring a deep conceptual understanding and the development of core knowledge.
• Hands-on, practical investigations: Children are actively encouraged to ask their own questions and are given opportunities to use various types of scientific enquiries (e.g., observing over time, pattern seeking, fair testing) to discover the answers for themselves.
• Rich learning environments: Classrooms utilise interactive science working walls, and we make the most of our outdoor learning environment and the wider community for meaningful, real-life scientific experiences.
• Focus on scientific vocabulary: We explicitly teach and embed scientific vocabulary through definitions, images, and discussions to ensure children can confidently talk about their learning and reason scientifically.
• Experiences beyond the classroom: We enrich the curriculum with trips, visitors, and links to relevant scientists and inventors throughout history to make learning relevant and inspire our pupils.

  Impact: What Children Will Achieve

  The impact of our science curriculum is that our children become resilient, curious, and motivated learners with a sound scientific understanding of the world around them. We measure the success of our curriculum through:

• Pupil Outcomes: Most children will demonstrate a strong grasp of scientific concepts and the ability to apply their knowledge to real-life contexts.
• Skills Development: Pupils will show proficiency in essential scientific skills including hypothesising, experimenting, observing, and drawing conclusions.
• Engagement and Enthusiasm: Evidence gathered through pupil interviews, book scrutinies, and observations shows high levels of engagement and positive attitudes towards science learning and discovery.
• Prepared for the Future: Children will leave DEnham Village School well-prepared for the next stage of their education, equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly scientific and technological world.