Intent

At Edale Rise Primary and Nursery School, our Science curriculum is designed to develop curiosity, excitement and a deep understanding of the world. Through a carefully planned  curriculum, pupils build secure knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics while developing the skills to think and work scientifically.

Our curriculum encourages pupils to question, investigate and make sense of the world around them. Pupils develop scientific literacy and critical thinking, learning how science has shaped the past and continues to influence the future. Learning is meaningful, inclusive and connected to real-life contexts, ensuring all pupils develop both secure knowledge and a lasting interest in science. The curriculum is fully aligned to the National Curriculum and provides a strong foundation for future scientific learning.

Implementation

Science is taught through a progressive, knowledge-rich curriculum built around three key strands:

• Scientific knowledge and understanding (biology, chemistry and physics)
• Working scientifically
• Science in action

Learning is carefully sequenced through a spiral curriculum, enabling pupils to revisit key knowledge and skills with increasing depth and complexity. Pupils study a broad range of content including plants, animals and humans, living things and habitats, materials, energy, forces and Earth and space, ensuring full coverage and progression across each key stage.

Lessons are practical, engaging and enquiry-based, combining investigation, discussion and hands-on experiences. Working scientifically skills are embedded throughout, enabling pupils to ask questions, plan and carry out investigations, gather and interpret data, and draw conclusions using evidence. Cross-curricular links and real-world applications ensure learning is purposeful and relevant.

Teaching is inclusive and responsive, with adaptive strategies used to support all pupils to succeed. This includes the use of structured scaffolds, targeted questioning, practical support, visual resources and vocabulary development through knowledge organisers. Opportunities for challenge are also embedded to extend pupils’ thinking. Strong subject knowledge is supported through high-quality planning and resources, ensuring consistent and effective delivery across the school.

Impact

Pupils develop secure scientific knowledge alongside the skills needed to think and work scientifically. They are able to ask meaningful questions, carry out investigations with increasing independence and explain their understanding using appropriate scientific vocabulary. Pupils demonstrate curiosity, resilience and confidence, and understand the relevance of science in the wider world.

Assessment is both formative and summative, enabling teachers to monitor progress, support all learners and ensure strong outcomes. Pupils are encouraged to evaluate their work and reflect on improvements, developing independence and critical thinking.

By the end of primary school, pupils will:

• Demonstrate secure knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics
• Ask questions, plan and carry out investigations confidently
• Gather, record and interpret data accurately using a range of methods
• Use scientific vocabulary to explain, justify and evaluate ideas
• Understand the role and impact of science in everyday life and the wider world
• Be well prepared for further study in Science at Key Stage 3