Immaculate Heart Of Mary Catholic Primary School A Voluntary Academy

At Immaculate Heart, our aim is to develop enthusiastic, inquisitive learners who are excited by science and ask questions to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. We provide an array of hands-on, practical experiences to enable children to question, investigate, and evaluate their findings both in the classroom and in the outdoor environment.

Being fortunate enough to have outdoor and woodland provision around our school, we can uniquely integrate outdoor learning into the curriculum to give real-life context around the concept and facts that they learn, to stimulate the children’s curiosity and to foster an understand and respect of the natural world, its rhythms and cycles, and the role and relationships that humans and all living things have in nature and our built environment.

Science is taught weekly through discrete science lessons in Key Stage One and Two and as part of cross-curricular themes, when appropriate. Teachers plan engaging and challenging lessons in line with the National Curriculum and in the reference frame of our progression documents which highlight the context in the sequence of learning; and integrating the teaching of subject knowledge and scientific investigative skills simultaneously.

Teachers deliver investigative enquiry-based lessons where children learn practically, to promote a deeper understanding of scientific concepts, and where possible, relevant parts of the science curriculum are delivered through outdoor learning.

We offer a range of co-curricular experiences designed to deepen student’s knowledge and understanding of science, such as Science Club and Science Week, including our popular annual Science Fair. Our aim is to further stimulate children’s curiosity and students are encouraged to experiment to find their own questions and answers. Children also learn about key scientists, both past and present, to understand the significance of previous discoveries and to inspire future ones.

Through links with our local high school and a wealth of parent helpers who work in science-based careers, our science provision is enriched as children have opportunities to experience hands-on science lessons from experts in their field to prepare and excite them for the transition to secondary education and beyond.

At the start of each topic, teachers plan a pre-unit activity such as a mind-map or vocabulary grid to assess knowledge and skills. Children’s work in science is assessed through teacher judgements as we observe children displaying subject knowledge, making links, and working scientifically; asking questions and taking part in discussions. 

The successful approach to the teaching of science at Immaculate Heart of Mary will result in a fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education.

Formative assessment is used to to assess the impact of Science at our school as it allows for misconceptions to be addressed practically and immediately, and to allow knowledge to be built on secure scientific foundations.

Children at Immaculate Heart of Mary will:

• demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field


• retain knowledge that is pertinent to Science with a real life context.


• be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.


• be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using rich language linked to science.


• demonstrate a high love of mathematical skills through their work, organising, recording and interpreting results.


• work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.


• achieve age related expectations in Science at the end of their cohort year.