Science

The study of science at St Paul’s helps our pupils understand how the world in which we live shapes our lives, and how we in turn shape the world around us.

At St Paul’s we aim for a high quality science curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about how things work: living things, man-made inventions and discoveries, and the way natural laws affect our world.

Our teaching will equip pupils with the foundations of biology, chemistry and physics which are detailed in the national curriculum. We want children to enjoy and love learning about science by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with educational visits and whole school science days.

We hope that in teaching in this way, our pupils increasingly develop the ability to ask and answer questions about how things work: from our human bodies to electricity to the growth of plants. An increasing scientific knowledge will enable children to understand the world in which they live and so reach out to care and protect it.

Lessons involve many practical activities and all children are encouraged to show their understanding in a variety of ways from drawings, photographs, discussion, modelling, sorting and writing.

The 5 Enquiry types

Observing Over Time helps children understand how things change gradually. It develops patience, careful observation skills, and an understanding of life cycles, seasons, and growth.
Pattern Seeking encourages children to look for links and relationships. It helps them think critically, spot trends, and ask deeper scientific questions about the world around them.
Identifying, Classifying and Grouping teaches children how to organise information. This helps them recognise similarities and differences, improving their understanding of living things, materials, and objects.
Comparative and Fair Testing allows children to test ideas and answer questions scientifically. It helps them understand how to make investigations fair and draw reliable conclusions from evidence.
Research Using Secondary Sources gives children the opportunity to learn from information that cannot be investigated directly. It develops research skills and teaches them how to find, evaluate, and use information from a range of sources.

Together, these five enquiry types provide children with a variety of ways to ask questions, investigate, gather evidence, and develop their scientific understanding.