Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement: Science

Intent

The intent of the Science curriculum at William Bellamy Primary School is to provide the foundations that allow pupils to understand the world around them. We allow pupils to see how science has changed the world and our lives. Pupils are taught the knowledge, processes and uses of science through explanation and opportunities for investigation. The aim of science within the school is to develop curiosity and excitement about the world we live in.

The school’s overarching intent based in nurture and diversity, this is embedded into the curriculum to ensure that the curriculum is reflective of our school community and all teaching is delivered using a nurturing approach.

Through our Science curriculum pupils are given the opportunity to:

• think independently and ask questions about the knowledge and skills that working scientifically develops.
• have confidence and competence in the full range of practical skills, taking the initiative in planning and carrying out scientific investigations and working collaboratively.
• have good scientific knowledge and understanding demonstrated in written and verbal explanations, appropriate use of vocabulary, confidence to solve problems and report scientific findings.
• have confidence to set their knowledge in a context using original thinking and imagination to apply learning in different ways.
• have the skills and understanding to undertake practical work in a variety of contexts including fieldwork.
• have a real interest in Science and its application in the past, present and future.

Implementation

The school follows the Kapow scheme to support the delivery of the National Curriculum programs of study- all pupils in KS1 and 2 are taught Science as a fortnightly block across a half term. Scientific knowledge is taught alongside the ‘Working Scientifically’ programs of study. Science content is planned and delivered across milestone phases with opportunities to recap and revisit vocabulary and knowledge at various intervals. The science planning is sequenced to take advantage of seasonal study opportunities and to ensure progression in scientific working skills, while covering the National Curriculum. Each year is comprised of 6 blocks dedicated to one of the science areas and culminating in a meaningful learning outcome. The final unit is a 'making connections' unit which revises and builds on learning from the previous units taught. Opportunities for pupils to meet the full range of scientific investigative approaches entail pattern seeking, exploring, problem solving, fair testing, and analysing secondary sources. Vocabulary is planned for each unit of work, it is taught in the context of each lesson and revised throughout the unit. Pupils also complete a title page at the start of a new unit of learning and then add to this throughout the topic with new concepts learnt. Links are made with prior units of learning in previous years and phases to ensure progression over time. Further opportunities are planned for enrichment activities through focused STEM weeks and cross-curricular links in order to deepen the pupils understanding and make real life purposeful connections. Pupils also complete a hot task at the unit of the unit to demonstrate progress and understanding. 

Impact

At William Bellamy Primary School, our pupils develop the scientific knowledge, skills and understanding which they apply to their daily lives, local environment, and the world in which they live and beyond. Pupils develop their ability to enquire, analyse and investigate alongside building a wider range of scientific vocabulary. Through this curriculum, pupils have the tools and knowledge to create high aspirations for their future study, careers and adult life. Pupil outcomes in science are monitored in a variety of ways. To assess pupils knowledge and understanding teachers use formative assessment throughout each unit to track pupils against the key learning outcomes. The teacher judgments are recorded using the schools Arbor markbooks.

The aim is for all pupils to have:

• A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry and investigative skills.
• A richer vocabulary which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
• High aspirations for the future equipping them with the science knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their further education.

 Science Curriculum Overview

Year 1 and 2 are completing Hamilton units this academic year (2025/26) and will fully move to the Kapow coverage as mapped out above from September 2026