Intent
At Larwood School, we see science as an exciting journey of exploration and discovery. Our curriculum gives children the knowledge and skills they need now and for the future
We encourage children to become young scientists by nurturing their curiosity through hands-on, enquiry-based learning. We build their scientific understanding by:
- immersing them in key vocabulary
- helping them apply what they’ve learned
- encouraging them to solve problems and make connections
Every child, regardless of background or ability, has access to a broad and balanced science curriculum.
Implementation
At Larwood School, we deliver a progressive science curriculum that builds knowledge and skills year by year. This helps children recall and apply what they’ve previously learned.
The science lead monitors teaching quality by reviewing planning, books and pupil feedback. They support staff who need help with subject knowledge or curriculum delivery and regularly share resources and ideas to make planning easier and more effective.
Teachers plan science lessons using our progression document, which follows the National Curriculum for Science (2014) and CREST science. Science is taught as both stand-alone lessons and, where possible, linked to class topics to deepen understanding. Cross- curricular links are made with literacy (e.g. fact files) and DT (e.g. exploring materials). Children can also choose Mad Science during Thursday Skills sessions.
Lessons include hands-on problem-solving tasks where pupils explore questions, investigate, and use a range of enquiry methods. They are encouraged to think like scientists—be curious, ask questions, and use scientific skills and vocabulary to find answers
Scientific enquiry is woven through all lessons and developed as children move through the school. Teachers use precise questioning to check vocabulary and understanding, spot misconceptions and adapt future lessons to support or stretch pupils.
As children gain more confidence, they become skilled at using equipment, collecting results, drawing conclusions from real evidence, and applying higher-level scientific vocabulary.
We also offer a range of enrichment opportunities, such as:
- Science Days and topic days
- Educational trips, like the London Science Museum
- In-school experiences, such as chick and butterfly kits
These are all designed to spark curiosity, reinforce learning and make science fun and engaging.
Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities. Visits, trips and visitors are planned to complement and broaden the curriculum. Some examples include KS1 having the chick hatching kit, visits to the London Science Museum, year 6 butterfly kits, to name a few. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class. Regular events, such as Science Days or topic days, allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills
Impact
As a result of the engaging, hands-on, inquiry-based, high-quality science at Larwood School, children will leave with the skills and knowledge for understanding the world in which they live. This will be reflected in the number of children achieving age-related expectations at the end of their cohort year, the high-quality work produced by the children, and their own science capital. They will talk confidently about science and use appropriate scientific vocabulary. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science and have access to positive role models within science. Children will be motivated and enthused by science, feeling like young scientists themselves, understanding how science has changed our lives and how it is vital to the impact on our future world.
