Intent
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
The world is a curious place, which relentlessly provides questions that demand answers. Knowing how it works, and the influence we – as individuals – play in that world, isn’t easy. At St. George’s, Science provides our pupils with the opportunity to be curious, to ask questions. More than that, it refines their skill in asking the ‘right’ questions, hypothesising and predicting answers, observing and investigating to figure out how things work. It generates the joyful flush of success when something that wasn’t known suddenly becomes clear and the recognition that asking questions is the key to understanding… for any aspect of life.
Implementation
At St. George’s, this is approached through a considered and progressive series of Programmes of Study, which provide practical, hands on activities, where children can experience scientific phenomena first hand. To make learning relevant, teachers draw on pupils’ every day experiences and relate science to their real world. We encourage pupils to be inquisitive about the world around them and ask scientific questions. Where possible, pupils are given opportunities to plan and carry out experiments, to make predictions and test their ideas. This gives them a better understanding of the curriculum and enables them to experience science in everyday life. We support our pupils to build on their previous learning to make links with other areas of the curriculum; and to express their findings using vocabulary specific for each topic.
Research Links
“Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity …pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.”(Statutory guidance, National curriculum in England: science programmes of study, Updated 6 May 2015)
At St. George’s, we recognise the importance of Science not simply as a subject to provide knowledge, but as a means to develop the spirit of human curiosity and engender a commonality of community. As Louis Pasteur once noted: “Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.”
Here, we embed the process of curiosity and questioning into everyday practice. Our pupils participate in intra and inter school Science projects, presenting their findings to a variety of audiences, including professionals, teachers, parents, the community and pupils. Through assemblies, presentations, guest speakers and talks, we provision opportunities for pupils to engage with scientists and scientific phenomena they might otherwise not experience. Cross-curricular links further embed the immediacy of Science into pupils’ everyday lives, for example, through healthy bodies and eating. Across all times of year, as well as during Science Week, we explore the mystery of the unexplained and the potential of Science to provide a window into the unknown.