Science
Intent
At Godolphin Primary School, our science curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity about the world, nurturing in every child a lifelong love of exploration, discovery, and critical thinking. We encourage our pupils to ask questions, investigate ideas, and develop an understanding of the natural and physical world through hands-on, enquiry-based learning.
Rooted in kindness, our science teaching promotes respect for living things, the environment, and the contributions of scientists from all backgrounds and cultures. We foster a classroom culture where children feel safe to take risks, challenge assumptions, and support each other in collaborative learning.
We aim to help our pupils feel connected—to each other, to their community, and to the wider world—by making science relevant to their everyday lives and to the global challenges we face. Through real-world contexts and meaningful cross-curricular links, we empower children to see themselves as future scientists, inventors, and informed citizens who can make a positive impact.
Implementation
At Godolphin School, Science is taught through the Plymouth Science scheme, which provides a clear, consistent, and structured approach to teaching and learning across the school. This scheme ensures that all children from Reception to Year 6 experience weekly Science lessons that are purposeful, engaging, and rich in enquiry.
Each unit is designed to enable children to work scientifically, building their understanding through hands-on investigations, careful observations, accurate measuring, and thoughtful evaluating. Scientific enquiry is at the heart of every lesson, encouraging pupils to develop the key skills needed to explore the world around them.
Every lesson begins with a retrieval task, helping children recall and consolidate key knowledge from previous learning. This supports memory retention, builds confidence, and strengthens connections between topics.
Our Science curriculum is enriched and enhanced by our school drivers:
- Be Kind – Children work collaboratively in science, supporting one another in investigations, sharing ideas respectfully, and valuing each other’s contributions. Kindness is reflected in group work and in the way we care for our environment and living things.
- Be Curious – Curiosity is the foundation of scientific thinking. Our lessons are designed to spark questions, inspire wonder, and encourage children to investigate how and why things happen. We nurture a classroom culture where children feel confident to ask questions and seek answers through exploration.
- Be Connected – Science is taught in a way that makes meaningful links with the real world, other curriculum subjects, and children’s own experiences. Pupils are encouraged to make connections between ideas, build on prior learning, and see how science relates to their everyday lives and the wider world.
Through our carefully structured curriculum and our commitment to our core values, we empower children to become thoughtful, inquisitive, and responsible young scientists, ready to continue their learning journey with confidence and enthusiasm.
Science Curriculum Overview: