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Science

Through science we understand the world around us and we learn the processes and strategies of investigation and discovery.

Our Science curriculum is designed to cover all of the knowledge and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. To ensure that children develop a secure knowledge that they can build on, our Science curriculum is organised into a progression model that outlines the knowledge, skills and vocabulary to be taught in a sequentially coherent way.

Working scientifically is at the heart of our ambitious Science curriculum; all children will develop skills to become confident scientists in order to aid their discoveries and develop problem-solving, teamwork and resilience. As children progress through school, they will acquire scientific knowledge and understanding of concepts through discovery and then be able to apply this to a range of contexts.

We want all of our children to:

  • Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific
  • disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
  • Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through
  • different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about
  • the world around them
  • Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and
  • implications of science, today and for the future.

Core Elements of Science Teaching

  • Engaging and inspiring investigations that encourage critical thinking and enquiry-based learning.
  • High quality instruction and questioning with teachers providing carefully planned sequenced lessons that build on scientific knowledge and enquiry skills.
  • Working practically with high-quality resources to answer scientific questions, apply knowledge and discover new learning.
  • Analysis, presentation and evaluation of scientific data to draw valid conclusions.
  • Retrieval of previous learning and explicit links through concepts that connect new learning with what the children already know.
  • Enriching learning experiences through trips, workshops, visitors and high quality texts.
  • High quality talk providing children with opportunities to discuss scientific thinking and to learn how to challenge and disagree respectfully giving thoughtful reasons for their views.
  • Links to current and historical scientists and the impact of their work, and addressing stereotypes in a sensitive way.
  • Carefully chosen and planned lessons and activities that are scaffold and adapted to ensure all children meet the intent of the Science curriculum.

Curriculum

Our EYFS follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. ‘Understanding the World’ involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about the natural world. The concept of Science and working scientifically is first introduced when children begin to make observations and drawings to understand important processes and changes in the natural world, for example, the seasons.

In Key Stage 1, children begin to experience and observe scientific ideas, looking more closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around them.

In Lower Key Stage 2, children broaden their scientific view of the world around them by exploring, discussing, testing and developing ideas about everyday scientific concepts and the relationships between living things and familiar environments. Children begin to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions.

In Upper Key Stage 2, children develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas through exploring and discussing their ideas, asking their own questions about scientific concepts, and analysing functions, relationships and interactions more systematically.

Cultural Capital

Children are offered a wide range of enriching and inspiring first-hand experiences, which are designed to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Book corners are well-resourced with a range of engaging texts and high-quality scientific resources and equipment are used to spark imagination and develop working scientifically skills. Cross-curricular learning experiences provide a variety of opportunities to practise and explore the same skills and understanding in different subject areas.

Educational trips, workshops and interactions with experts are carefully mapped out to develop children’ understanding that Science has changed our lives and that is it vital to the future of the world and its prosperity.

Many aspects of our teaching and learning in Science support the eco-curriculum and work towards maintaining the Green Flag Award. Each year we hold a Science day where the whole school works collaboratively on a theme and the children have the opportunity to share their learning at our annual Science Fair.

Accessibility for all children

Our expectation is that the majority of children will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace through supporting children with additional inputs, interventions, peer support and resources.

The ambitious and inclusive nature of the curriculum allows a range of access points that ensure all children, including those with special educational needs, succeed, regardless of their circumstances, with high expectations set for everyone.

For more information on our approach to teaching Science, please look at our coffee morning timetable for the next available session or make an appointment in the school office to speak with our Science subject leader.

Science News

  • 17th July 2025

    Year 6 Enter the World of Fashion and Design

    Year 6 Enter the World of Fashion and Design

    Year 6 enjoyed their visit to London College of Fashion They explored costume and prosthetics, designed climate change themed carnival outfits and confidently shared their ideas with the group!

    17th July 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 7th July 2025

    Year 6 Practice Cycling to Secondary

    Year 6 Practice Cycling to Secondary

    Year 6 have been learning all about cycle networks and how to plan safe, enjoyable routes — putting it into practice by cycling to their future secondary schools. A great…

    7th July 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 22nd May 2025

    Year 3 Travel Back to Ancient Egypt

    Year 3 Travel Back to Ancient Egypt

    Year 3 had a fantastic time at the V&A Museum, exploring the creativity of ancient Egypt and its influence on art, design and culture. They loved discovering how ancient ideas…

    22nd May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 16th May 2025

    Day 5 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Day 5 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Today marked our final day at our partner school,  and pupils made the most of every moment with their new Spanish friends. They joined in with a range of lessons,…

    16th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 15th May 2025

    Day 4 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Day 4 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Today, pupils enjoyed a sun-soaked day of adventure at Siam Park, one of the world’s top-rated water parks, alongside their Spanish peers from CEIP Princesa Tejina. Located in the south…

    15th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 14th May 2025

    EYFS Explore Nature’s Wonders

    EYFS Explore Nature’s Wonders

    EYFS have been learning about life cycles for our topic 'New Life'! Last week, they explored the garden to investigate how plants grow and loved discovering all the different flowers…

    14th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 14th May 2025

    Join Us At Our Science Coffee Morning – Friday 16th May

    Join Us At Our Science Coffee Morning – Friday 16th

    Join us this Friday, 16th May for our Science Coffee Morning. Learn what experiments you can try with your child at home. See you then!

    14th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 14th May 2025

    Day 3 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Day 3 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Today, our pupils had a brilliant day at our partner school, CEIP Princesa Tejina. From a colourful aviary of Canarian birds to a climbing wall and spacious playground, the school…

    14th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 13th May 2025

    Bring a Signifcant Female Day

    Bring a Signifcant Female Day

    For Bring a Significant Female Day, children and their guests created canopic jars, linking our Ancient Egyptians topic with Art. They sculpted, pinched and decorated with hieroglyphics. It was wonderful…

    13th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 13th May 2025

    Day 2 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    Day 2 – Turing Tenerife Trip May 2025

    ¡Hola from Tenerife! Today, our pupils explored the agricultural side of island life with a visit to Las Margaritas banana plantation. After a filling buffet breakfast, we travelled south, catching stunning views…

    13th May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 2nd May 2025

    EYFS Plant Their Own Vegetables

    EYFS Plant Their Own Vegetables

    EYFS have been reading Oliver's Vegetables this week. Like Oliver’s grandpa, they wrote about the vegetables they would love to grow, then planted some potatoes together! Now it’s time to…

    2nd May 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 3rd April 2025

    Create Easter Baskets with EYFS

    Create Easter Baskets with EYFS

    EYFS had a fantastic time making Easter baskets for DT Day. With their grown-ups, they transformed recycled containers and cups into wonderful creations. The final results looked amazing!

    3rd April 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 1st April 2025

    Year 3 Explore Germination

    Year 3 Explore Germination

    Year 3 explored germination in a hands-on gardening workshop. They planted basil, peppers and potatoes, which will be sold in the summer to raise money for the school in their…

    1st April 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 21st March 2025

    Compose Your Own Music at our Coffee Morning

    Compose Your Own Music at our Coffee Morning

    Parents and children had a fantastic time at our Music Coffee Morning. Ms Davison shared our vibrant music curriculum, showcasing all we offer in music. Everyone then got creative, composing…

    21st March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 20th March 2025

    Year 5 Begin Their University Journey

    Year 5 Begin Their University Journey

    Year 5 started their journey with IntoUniversity last week. They explored future pathways, possible university societies they could join based on their hobbies, and where they would like to live…

    20th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 14th March 2025

    Viridis Velo Cycling Team Triumphs at Mabley Green

    Viridis Velo Cycling Team Triumphs at Mabley Green

    A few of our pupils had a fantastic race day at Mabley Green with the Viridis Velo cycling team. Competing against schools across Hackney, they showed incredible ambition and resilience,…

    14th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 13th March 2025

    World Book Day 2025

    World Book Day 2025

    World Book Day was an adventure-filled celebration! Southwold started with parent reading, showed off amazing costumes in assembly and enjoyed the mad teacher book dash! The day ended with peer…

    13th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 13th March 2025

    Join Us At Our Music Coffee Morning – Friday 13th March

    Join Us At Our Music Coffee Morning – Friday 13th

    Join us tomorrow for our Music Coffee Morning. Learn what is taught in our Music curriculum at school. See you tomorrow!

    13th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 11th March 2025

    Year 1 Explore Plants

    Year 1 Explore Plants

    Year 1 have been learning all about plants in Science. They explored various types of plants, including seeds, flowers and vegetables, and shared what they had learned in Reception. The…

    11th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 5th March 2025

    Year 3 Learn the Forces of Physics

    Year 3 Learn the Forces of Physics

    Year 3 explored magnets in Science, discovering which materials magnets attract and repel. They also investigated how magnetic different metals are. For example, did you know iron is more magnetic…

    5th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 5th March 2025

    Easter Bonnet Competition – 3rd April 2025

    Easter Bonnet Competition – 3rd April 2025

    EASTER BONNET COMPETITION! We cannot wait to see your amazing bonnet crafts!

    5th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 4th March 2025

    EYFS Build Three Little Pigs House

    EYFS Build Three Little Pigs House

    EYFS loved building houses at the new Three Little Pigs Building Site! They used blocks, sticks and straw, all while working together to create their very own little houses.

    4th March 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 28th February 2025

    Travel on the Weaver Line with EYFS

    Travel on the Weaver Line with EYFS

    EYFS had an amazing adventure spotting different forms of transport such as buses, trains, cars and vans! On the Weaver Line train, they took photos with an iPad while enjoying…

    28th February 2025
    Fabiha Sultana

  • 28th February 2025

    Year 3 Explore Historic Mosaics

    Year 3 Explore Historic Mosaics

    Year 3 explored Walthamstow Village to discover the Maud Milton street #mosaics. Inspired by these #historical pieces connected to the local area, they cannot wait to create their own mosaics…

    28th February 2025
    Fabiha Sultana