Intent

At Coppull Parish, our pupils develop a broad range of scientific skills alongside a secure body of scientific knowledge, vocabulary and understanding. We aim for pupils to confidently discuss scientific facts and data using a variety of approaches, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers.

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded throughout our curriculum. A key strength of the curriculum is its progressive structure, where both skills and knowledge build systematically on prior learning. This ensures that each child becomes an independent learner, capable of exploring and answering scientific questions.

Since adopting the White Rose Education Science scheme in 2025, our curriculum has been underpinned by a comprehensive and cohesive approach to science education. Through this, we aim to:

• Foster deep scientific understanding: Our carefully sequenced curriculum ensures that pupils develop a secure understanding of key scientific concepts, building strong foundations for future learning.

• Encourage enquiry and exploration: We nurture curiosity by encouraging pupils to ask questions, investigate ideas and value evidence-based reasoning.

• Embed core knowledge and skills: Pupils develop essential scientific knowledge alongside practical and investigative skills, including ‘working scientifically’, enabling them to apply their learning in a range of contexts.

• Promote cross-curricular connections: Science is meaningfully linked with subjects such as Mathematics, English and Geography, helping pupils recognise its relevance in everyday life.

Implementation

Science is taught weekly across all year groups and follows a structured, progressive sequence using the White Rose Science scheme. Pupils record their learning in individual science books, which demonstrate progression in knowledge, vocabulary and scientific enquiry skills over time.

Our implementation is supported through:

• Structured curriculum planning: Lessons are coherently sequenced to ensure clear progression across year groups. Each topic builds on prior knowledge, deepening understanding over time. Teachers have flexibility to organise units in a way that best suits their class while ensuring full curriculum coverage.

• Support for teachers: Comprehensive resources and detailed lesson plans enable teachers to deliver high-quality lessons confidently. Built-in differentiation ensures all pupils can access learning and achieve success.

• Hands-on learning: Practical investigations are central to our approach. Pupils regularly engage in experiments and activities that make abstract concepts meaningful and memorable.

• Working scientifically: Enquiry skills are explicitly taught and revisited, allowing pupils to ask questions, make predictions, conduct investigations, and analyse results.

• Assessment for learning: Pupils are assessed termly, with outcomes recorded using the Insight Tracking System. Teachers make an overall judgement at the end of the academic year based on a range of evidence, including practical work, recorded work and pupil discussions.

Impact

The impact of our science curriculum is that pupils at Coppull Parish develop into confident, curious and knowledgeable learners who are well-prepared for the next stage of their education.

Through the progressive structure of the curriculum, pupils build a secure and connected understanding of scientific concepts. They are able to recall prior learning and apply it to new situations, demonstrating depth in their knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics.

Pupils develop strong ‘working scientifically’ skills and are able to:

• Ask relevant questions and make predictions

• Plan and carry out investigations

• Observe, measure and record results accurately

• Analyse data and draw evidence-based conclusions

• Evaluate their findings and reflect on their learning

As a result, pupils can think critically, reason scientifically and communicate their ideas effectively using appropriate scientific vocabulary.

Ongoing assessment ensures that teachers have a clear understanding of pupil progress. This enables timely support and challenge, ensuring all learners make good progress from their starting points. Pupils are able to articulate what they have learned and demonstrate increasing independence in their approach to scientific enquiry.

Our emphasis on practical, hands-on learning leads to high levels of engagement and enthusiasm. Pupils enjoy science and are motivated to explore the world around them, making meaningful connections between their learning and real-life contexts.

By the time pupils leave Coppull Parish, they have developed:

• A secure foundation of scientific knowledge and skills

• Confidence in using scientific language and methods

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific learning

• The ability to think independently and solve problems