Science Intent – What We Aspire for Our Children

At Green Park Community Primary School, we recognise that Science touches every part of our lives and is vital for the future. Our Science curriculum is designed to give children a solid foundation in understanding how things happen and why things work—from the tiniest living cells to the vast workings of our planet and beyond. We aim to instil a lifelong love of Science by delivering fun, stimulating, and hands-on lessons that nurture children’s natural curiosity and encourage respect for both living organisms and the physical environment. Enquiry is at the heart of our approach; we believe that to create the scientists of tomorrow, our children must develop strong investigative skills alongside solid scientific knowledge. Through our curriculum, children learn to ask questions, plan and carry out investigations, evaluate evidence, and use scientific language—all of which prepare them for a world where science plays a key role in everyday life and future careers.

Science Implementation – Bringing Curiosity to Life in the Classroom

At Green Park, our Science journey begins in the Early Years, where our little learners explore the natural world around them—observing how plants grow, how animals behave, and how everyday changes occur. As children progress through Key Stages 1 and 2, our carefully structured Science curriculum builds on these early experiences by revisiting common themes and introducing more complex concepts.

Our curriculum is built around four Golden Threads of learning, which are revisited as children advance:

• Biology: From exploring animals (including humans) and plants to understanding habitats, seasonal changes, evolution, and inheritance.
• Chemistry: Investigating materials, exploring rocks, fossils, and soil to understand the building blocks of our world.
• Physics: Delving into forces, electricity, magnetism, light, sound, and the wonders of Earth and space.
• Earth Science: Exploring weather patterns, the water cycle, environmental sustainability, and how our planet changes over time.

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in every topic, with lessons designed around planning, doing, recording, and explaining. Our hands-on, enquiry-based approach ensures that lessons are delivered in blocks, allowing for sustained study and deep engagement. Our scheme of learning, drawn from National Curriculum content and enriched with Cornerstones, has been carefully adapted to meet the needs of our children. This approach, based on the latest research and underpinned by quality-first teaching, uses specialist vocabulary, effective questioning, and collaborative activities to reinforce learning.

Science Impact – Equipping Our Children for Lifelong Success

The impact of our Science curriculum is clear in the way our children engage with and understand the world around them. Our pupils develop a genuine passion for scientific enquiry, and they come away with:

• A love for Science that inspires continued exploration and curiosity.
• The ability to retain and apply scientific knowledge in real-life contexts.
• Confidence in questioning ideas and articulating their understanding using rich, precise language.
• Enhanced skills in organising, recording, and interpreting data, reinforcing their mathematical abilities.
• The capacity to work collaboratively and practically in hands-on investigations.
• A clear awareness of how Science is relevant to their daily lives and future opportunities.

We are incredibly proud of our children’s progress in Science. Through continual observation, formative assessment, and the celebration of each achievement, we ensure that every child is challenged and supported to reach their full potential. By the end of each key stage, pupils at Green Park are not only expected to know, apply, and understand core scientific concepts and skills—they are encouraged to approach the world with a spirit of inquiry and wonder, setting them on a path to lifelong learning and success.

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The Science Progression Documents (both knowledge and skills)