Science

Wallace Fields Junior School prides itself on its teaching of science. Our aim is to harness the pupils’ natural curiosity in the world around them and provide hands-on, experiential opportunities for them to learn.

We develop children’s knowledge, skills, and understanding of science by:

Encouraging children to ask, as well as answer, scientific questions
Engaging pupils in a wide variety of problem-solving activities and using ‘real life’ scenarios
Teaching well-resourced lessons that incorporate regular practical science investigations
Analysing a variety of data, such as statistics, graphs, pictures and photographs
Embedding maths and English opportunities
Presenting findings in a variety of ways and challenging misconceptions
Utilising the outdoor environment to enrich learning opportunities

Science visits and events

We believe that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, aptitude or disability. In addition to at least two hours of weekly science lessons in every year group, we provide all pupils with an array of extra-curricular opportunities.
These include:

Year 3: Visit Wisley Gardens to support learning about plants and take part in The Human Machine theatre workshop, exploring growth and food.
Year 4: Experience a visit from The Learning Dome pop-up planetarium, take part in a Year 4 science club, visit Painshill Park to support learning about minibeasts, and enjoy a hands-on forces workshop from Crew Theatre exploring friction.
Year 5: Host the annual Science Fair, where pupils research, create and present science projects to the school community. They also enjoy an exciting National Physics Laboratory liquid nitrogen workshop.
Year 6: Have the opportunity to attend an after-school science club led by STEM Ambassador Mrs Hernandez (MSc, Imperial College), exploring big scientific questions through practical investigations. Pupils also visit Nausicaá Aquarium during their residential trip to France.
Competitions: Wallace Fields Junior School enters a team in the National Year 5 & 6 Inter-School Quiz Championship. The school were crowned National Science Quiz Champions in 2019 and achieved 4th place in 2026.
Whole School: Pupils benefit from inspirational talks and visits from STEM engineers and professionals, helping them understand the real-world applications of science and STEM careers.

Space Education Quality Mark

The school has also achieved a well-earned Silver award in ESERO-UK's Space Education Quality Mark, which celebrated the fantastic teaching and learning that takes place in our school in the topic of Earth and Space.

Teaching science to children with special needs

We teach science to all children, whatever their ability. Science forms part of the school curriculum policy to provide a broad and balanced education for all children. We provide learning opportunities that are matched to the needs of children with learning difficulties. Our work in science takes into account the targets set in the children’s SEND support arrangements. Additionally, ‘Science in my pocket’ and ‘Playground science’ investigations offer SEND children the opportunity for further scientific investigation in smaller, child led enquiry. These are utilised during designated one to one sessions led by support staff. Click on this link for further information about SEND and inclusion.

Intent

At Wallace Fields Juniors, it is our intention to recognise the importance of science in every aspect of daily life. We give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it requires. The scientific area of learning is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of our world, and with developing skills associated with science as a process of enquiry. The science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes. Our approach to science builds on prior learning and results in the acquisition of deep knowledge, whilst also enabling children to become enquiry-based learners. The key knowledge identified by each year group is informed by the National Curriculum and builds towards identified phase ‘end points’ in accordance with age-related expectations. Key skills are also mapped for each year group and are progressive throughout the school. These too ensure systematic progression to identified skills end points, which are in accordance with the 'Working Scientifically' skills expectations of the National Curriculum. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children are able to acquire key scientific knowledge through practical experiences; using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently.

Implementation

A clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum where teaching and learning shows progression and plans for practical investigative opportunities across the key stage within the strands of science.
Children have access to key language and meanings in order to understand and readily apply to their written, mathematical and verbal communication of their skills. Science vocabulary displays are evident in every classroom.
Children will use a range of resources to develop their knowledge and understanding that is integral to their learning and develop their understanding of working scientifically.
Children will reflect on previous learning of topic in previous year groups or KS1 and cross curricular links will be made wherever possible e.g. Michael Morpurgo's 'Kensuke's Kingdom' in Year 6
Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry-based learners.
Attainment will be assessed each term through teacher set 'Working Scientifically' skills assessment tasks and end of topic knowledge tests.
Where applicable, links to science will be made to develop the children’s topical learning e.g. D&T electricity topic in Year 5
'Working Scientifically' skills are embedded into lessons to ensure that skills are developed sequentially throughout the children’s time at Wallace Fields Juniors; new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.
Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various 'Working Scientifically' skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing the outdoor learning environment and workshops with experts e.g. the Planetarium and the Crew theatre Forces workshop (Year 4).
Children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class. e.g. Wisley Gardens (Plants in Year 3), Year 5 Science Fair, Science club (Year 6) and competing in the National Science Quiz championship.

Impact

Most children will achieve age related expectations in science at the end of their cohort year, in line with Maths and English.
Children will retain knowledge that is pertinent to science with a real life context.
Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.
Children will be able to explain the process they have taken and be able to reason scientifically.