At Bishop’s Waltham Junior School the health, safety and well-being of every child is our top priority.
Science
At Bishop's Waltham Junior School, our aim is to foster pupil’s enthusiasm and enjoyment in science and to help them to develop their curiosity for the world around them. Where possible, links are made to other subjects and topic areas, encouraging the children to apply their knowledge and to develop their thinking and problem solving skills in real life contexts. Through learning how to tackle problems using shared ideas and thinking skills and by providing opportunities for dialogue to evolve, higher order thinking skills can then develop.
Primary Science Quality Mark
I am pleased to share with you that Bishop’s Waltham Junior School has been awarded the Silver Primary Science Quality Mark.
The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is an award scheme designed to enable primary schools across the UK to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their science teaching, learning and provision. Supported by high-quality training and mentoring led by experts across the country, schools can achieve a bronze, silver or gold Primary Science Quality Mark award through a year-long process of audit, action and reflection.
PSQM is recognised by Ofsted and is viewed as an effective mechanism to help raise the profile of science in primary schools, improve teachers’ confidence and ability to teach science and have a positive impact on pupils’ performance, their engagement and enjoyment.
Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Award is a significant achievement for a school. The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure science understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”
I would like to thank all pupils and staff for their hard work in achieving this award and a special mention for Mrs. Arnold for her hard work in putting the submission together and for leading science very enthusiastically across the school.
Our Curriculum Overview
Year Three
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
comparing rocks, simply describing how fossils are formed and that soils are made from rocks
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Compare how things move on different surfaces and forces between objects / magnets
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Parts of the plant, requirements for life and growth and life cycle of flowering plant (studied over a period of time)
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Animals including humans: muscles, skeleton and nutrition |
Need light to see things, reflection, shadows
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Year Four
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
How sounds are made, how they travel, changes in sounds (pitch and volume)
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Compare matter, observe changes when heated or cooled, evaporation and condensation
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Simple circuits, completes circuits, switches, conductors and insulators
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Including the types and functions of teeth and food chains |
Grouping & classifying, naming living things in local environment, changes
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Longitudinal Study: Minibeasts
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Year Five
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
Gravity, resistance and mechanisms
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Comparing, dissolving, separating, changes - reversible and irreversible Changing state
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Life Cycle of Plants and Animals Differences in life cycles, reproduction in plants and animals |
Movement of Earth and other planets, movement of the moon, day and night
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Longitudinal Study: Butterflies
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Year Six
Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
Changing components- compare and give reasons, diagrams Changing circuits
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The Circulatory System Circulatory system, impact of diet, exercise and lifestyle |
How we see things and why- light travels in straight lines and how this explains why shadows are same shape as object, |
Lliving things change over time, variation in offspring, things adapt to suit environment.
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Longitudinal Study: Trees
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The National Curriculum for Science |
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National Curriculum - Science | Year 3 & 4 Programmes of Study | Year 5 & 6 Programmes of Study |