Science at St. Mary's

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 4:11

"Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them"

Psalm 11:2

At St. Mary's, we place a strong emphasis on Science as a core subject across Key Stages One and Two. We also recognise its integral role in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, where developing children's knowledge of the world is a key focus. As a Catholic school, we believe it is of utmost importance to learn about, understand, and respect the world that God has created for us. Through this, we aim to instil in our pupils both a sense of awe and responsibility towards the environment.

Our approach to Science teaching is underpinned by two main strands:

Scientific Knowledge

Children are taught the specific scientific knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum, covering a wide range of topics. These include:

• Plants
• Animals, including Humans
• Rocks
• Light and Sound
• Forces and Magnets
• Living Things and Their Habitats
• Electricity
• States of Matter
• Evolution and Inheritance
• Earth and Space
• The Seasons
• Materials

Through these topics, students not only gain a solid foundation in scientific facts but also develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Scientific Enquiry

In addition to knowledge, we place a strong emphasis on developing children’s scientific enquiry skills. Our goal is to foster a spirit of curiosity, encouraging students to explore, question, and investigate the world around them. We aim to equip children with the skills necessary to:

Predict outcomes of practical activities

Conduct fair and comparative tests

Record and analyse results accurately

Clearly communicate discoveries

As they progress, children learn to recognise the different types of scientific enquiry required to answer specific scientific questions. These include:

• Observation over time
• Research
• Pattern Seeking
• Comparative and Fair Testing
• Classifying and Sorting

At St. Mary’s, we strive to nurture a generation of curious, confident learners who are equipped not only with scientific knowledge but also the skills to engage with the world through scientific thinking.