Science | Valley Road Academy

Intent

At Valley Road we use KAPOW scheme of work to deliver the Science curriculum. The curriculum aims to encourage critical thinking and empower pupils to question the 'hows and whys' of the world around them. The scheme encourages:

● A strong focus on developing knowledge alongside scientific skills across biology, chemistry and
physics.
● Curiosity and excitement about familiar and unknown observations.
● Challenging misconceptions and demystifying truths.
● Continuous progression by building on practical and investigative skills across all units.
● Critical thinking, with the ability to ask perceptive questions and explain analyse evidence.
● Development of scientific literacy using wide-ranging, specialist vocabulary.

Article 29

I have the right to an education which develops my personality,

talents and abilities

Implementation

To meet the aims of the National curriculum for science and in response to the Ofsted research review: Kapow has identified the following key strands:
Scientific knowledge and understanding of:

Biology: living organisms and vital processes;
Chemistry: matter and its properties;
physics: how the world we live in ‘works’.
Working scientifically: processes and methods of science to answer questions about the world around us.
Science in action: uses and implications of science in the past, present and for the future.

Curriculum content has been grouped into six key areas of science to show progression throughout the school:

Plants
Living Things and habitats
Materials
Energy
Forces Earth & Space

Pupils explore knowledge and conceptual understanding through engaging activities and an introduction to relevant, specialist vocabulary. Working scientifically skills are integrated with conceptual understanding rather than taught discretely to provide frequent but relevant opportunities for developing scientific enquiry skills. The scheme utilises practical activities that aid in the progression of individual skills and provide opportunities for full investigations.

Impact

By the time pupils leave school in Year 6 they will be equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to succeed in science at Key stage 3. They will have the necessary tools to confidently and meaningfully question and explore the world around them and critically and analytically experience and observe phenomena. Pupils will understand the significance and impact of science on society.

Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the biology topics in the National curriculum:
Plants; Animals, including humans; Living things and their habitats; and Evolution and inheritance.
Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the chemistry topics in the National curriculum:
Everyday materials; Uses of everyday materials; Properties and changes of materials; States of matter; and Rocks.

Develop a body of foundational knowledge for the physics topics in the National curriculum:
Seasonal changes; Forces and magnets; Sound; Light; Electricity; and Earth and space.
Evaluate and identify the methods that ‘real world’ scientists use to develop and answer scientific
questions.
Identify and use equipment effectively to accurately gather, measure and record data

Science Long Term Plan Reception, Year 1 & 2

Science Long Term Plan Key Stage 2

To find out more about KAPOW and explore year group planning click here