Cledford Primary & Nursery Academy
Science
At Cledford Primary & Nursery Academy, we provide a high-quality science education that builds knowledge, fosters curiosity through scientific enquiry, and equips learners with the skills to understand the role of science in today's world and the future.
Intent
At Cledford Primary & Nursery Academy, we aim to inspire curiosity and a love for science in all children. We provide skills that support lifelong learning and help children make informed decisions about the world around them.
We ensure science is meaningful, engaging, and accessible to all, with a strong focus on developing scientific vocabulary to support understanding and confident communication.
Implementation
Our science curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and meet the needs of all learners. It follows the National Curriculum and EYFS framework, with planning involving all teachers to ensure full coverage and relevance to our pupils and community.
Science is taught sequentially, building knowledge and skills over time to deepen understanding. Topics such as plants are revisited across key stages to reinforce and extend learning.
Teachers collaborate with subject leaders to plan engaging, purposeful lessons that incorporate a range of scientific enquiry skills. These skills—such as observing, testing, and classifying—are embedded in each topic and clearly displayed in classrooms to support learning.
Impact
Our engaging and high-quality science teaching equips children with a strong foundation for understanding the world, preparing them for a scientific and technological future.
Assessment is ongoing and teacher-led, using both formal tools (such as quizzes and end-of-topic tasks) and informal methods (like discussions and written work). Formative assessment helps quickly address misconceptions and close knowledge gaps.
Our curriculum fosters curiosity, builds scientific vocabulary, and supports cross-curricular learning. It helps children develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts, processes, and enquiry skills—preparing them to think critically, ask questions, and explore the world with confidence.
Clear end points guide planning, ensuring pupils know more, remember more, and can do more.
Scientific Enquiry Expectations
At Cledford, scientific enquiry skills are developed progressively:
KS1 – With teacher support, children identify the type of enquiry used.
LKS2 – Children identify the enquiry type as they carry it out.
UKS2 – Children independently select the most appropriate enquiry method.
This progression fosters independence, critical thinking, and a problem-solving mindset—helping pupils become confident, curious scientists.
Each unit begins with a pre-assessment and key vocabulary introduction (guided in KS1). Lessons include regular recap of ‘sticky’ knowledge to reinforce learning. End-of-unit assessments may include discussions, quizzes, and formal tasks, with key knowledge clearly outlined at the start of each topic and used as an assessment focus.