Science
Curriculum Overview
Science is vital for our students because it supports them with understanding the world around them. Science teaches the learners to be inquisitive and lead with curiosity.
A high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, 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.
The key skills, concepts, knowledge and understanding that we aim to promote within the Science curriculum that we offer are:-
- Independence
- Curiosity
- Data analysis
- Critical thinking
- A love for learning
How does Science fit into the Rumworth Curriculum?
Science comes under our wider curriculum umbrella area of Science, Technology and computing. Science links in with other subject and curriculum areas because it promotes the development of enquiry skills.
Science fosters independent skills and teamwork. Both of these are skills that are encouraged across the school in all different subjects in order to promote the chances of employability and independence.
Curriculum Strands
Pre-formal Strand
Within this strand, Science is designed to be incorporated into the immersive activities that students would experience. The Science offer for students working in the Pre-formal Strand would be largely based around opportunities for sensory experience, whilst promoting communication and interaction with others. Students are given the opportunity to observe scientific phenomena through small and low risk scientific demonstrations. Pre formal strand science may be mainly presented to the learners in their familiar classroom setting as opposed to the lab.
Semi-formal Strand
Within this strand, Science is delivered to classes at KS3 and KS4 as a discrete curriculum subject. The Science offer for students working in the Semi-formal Strand has a heavy emphasis on ‘being a scientist’ and ‘thinking like a scientist’. It is designed to encourage students to experience and participate in a range of individual and group Science activities. Students take part in both written science tasks and hands-on experiments. Some students may progress to “read” Science and some may compose and perform their own pieces. Students may take external accreditation in Science at KS4 and there may be the opportunity for students to continue to study Science at KS5.
Formal Strand
Within this strand, Science is delivered to classes at KS3 as a discrete curriculum subject. The Science offer for students working in the Formal Strand also has a heavy emphasis on preparing learners with the best chances to access external accreditation at an appropriate level.. It is designed to encourage students to experience scientific context to be able to understand the world around them. Students all access external accreditation in KS4 Science. Students are particularly proud of sitting the GCSE Physics course. All students who sit GCSE are also dual entered for a level 1 qualification to minimise anxiety for the learners.
Feedback and Assessment
Feedback is consistent in Science. Teachers are confident with regards to questioning and AFL techniques within lessons as well as working as a team during moderation sessions. SLT observations have quality assured the excellent standard of Teaching & Learning in Science and many of the teachers are encouraged to open their door to showcase best practice. The assessment framework for science is robust and is confidently applied by teachers of science. Moderation sessions ensure that staff gently challenge one another in justification of teacher assessment throughout the year.
External Accreditation
This is offered as:-
- Entry Level 1 - 3
- Level 1
- GCSE Physics