Science

What Is Science About?

Science helps children understand the world around them by encouraging them to explore, investigate and discover how things work. The National Curriculum highlights that a high‑quality science education should nurture children’s natural curiosity and help them build a strong foundation of knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics. Through hands‑on experiments and thoughtful questioning, children learn to observe closely, test ideas, gather evidence and make sense of what they find. These skills not only deepen their understanding of scientific concepts but also support their confidence, problem‑solving and critical thinking as they grow. By learning about important scientific ideas and how they have shaped our lives, pupils begin to see the connections between past discoveries, present‑day innovations and the challenges of the future, helping them develop a lifelong interest in the world around them. 

Our Vision

Science teaching at Heyes Lane aims to give all children a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them to think scientifically. By deepening knowledge and understanding, coupled with developing skills, Heyes Lane pupils will have the foundations for understanding the world around them. The world is an ever-changing, fast-paced environment, and we want our children to be not only ready for it, but able to thrive in it. We want our children to gain an understanding of scientific processes and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future. At Heyes Lane, we want our pupils to think scientifically. We want our pupils to be passionate about science and how scientific developments have shaped the world we live in. We believe that developing these skills and knowledge will inspire our children to be curious and develop critical thinking. Our scientists will be able to make links to the world around them, making predictions and drawing conclusions based on their experiences. 

Children at Heyes Lane are encouraged to develop and utilise their scientific skills, including observation, planning investigations, inferring and reasoning, as well as being encouraged to question the world around them and become independent learners in exploring possible answers for their science based questions. Children are exposed to complex scientific vocabulary, which they are able to use in their thinking and reasoning. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. 

Scientists at Heyes Lane will be taught the importance of scientific fact and evidence-based reasoning. We believe it vital that our children leave Heyes Lane understanding the world around them and how science affects so many facets of our everyday lives. From technology to the environment, health and wellbeing to the wider universe, science is everywhere. Not only does the study of science help to satisfy many basic human needs and improve living conditions, it helps to sustain a sense of awe and wonder in the world and universe. 

What Does Science Look Like At Heyes Lane?

Science at Heyes Lane is taught through rich, thematic learning, with our core beliefs shaping every aspect of the curriculum. By linking scientific ideas to meaningful contexts, children are able to make deeper connections and understand how science relates to the wider world. For example, Year 6 explore the unit of Light through their study of World War II, making links to the Blitz and the Blackout, while Year 4 learn about Living Things and Their Habitats through their geography work on Rainforests. This approach helps children see how scientific ideas influence – and are influenced by – real events, environments and human choices. From discovering how the Earth moves through the seasons in Year 1 to understanding evolution and its impact on life today in Year 6, expectations for knowledge, skills and vocabulary are consistently high. By nurturing a culture of achievement, we enable children not only to meet these expectations but to exceed them. Science is taught weekly and often key concepts are revisited, as a result of carefully planned 3R strategies, allowing the children to remember more and demonstrate more. Because scientific knowledge is woven throughout the curriculum, learning is built to last; pupils revisit and build upon prior understanding rather than relearning concepts in isolation. Independent thinking, curiosity and collaborative exploration sit at the heart of our science curriculum, reflecting the true nature of scientific enquiry. Learning is exciting, inquisitive and strongly linked to oracy, giving children the confidence to talk about their ideas and explain their thinking clearly. 

Celebration assemblies throughout the year shine a spotlight on scientific curiosity and Working Scientifically, giving children the chance to share their investigations, questions and discoveries with the wider school community. Each year, we also take part in British Science Week, where pupils immerse themselves in hands‑on activities, themed challenges and whole‑school projects that spark imagination and deepen scientific understanding. These experiences help children see themselves as scientists – thoughtful, creative and ready to explore the world around them. Year 5 deliver a NASA Space conference to showcase their learning and expertise to parents and carers, whereas Year 3 link their understanding of Forces and Magnets to exploring Manchester Science and Industry Museum. 

Working Scientifically is embedded across all year groups. In Key Stage 1, children learn to question, observe, classify and record their ideas. As they move into Lower Key Stage 2, they begin to manipulate evidence, make predictions, analyse results, construct scientific diagrams and present their findings in different ways. By Upper Key Stage 2, pupils confidently measure using scientific equipment, record increasingly complex data, explore causal relationships and evaluate evidence used to support or challenge scientific conclusions. These skills empower our children to think like scientists: curious, reflective and confident in exploring how and why things happen. Learning in KS2 is evidenced in science books but sometimes photographs and videos of curriculum content is shared through online platforms like SEESAW and Instagram. 

The Learning Sequence 

At the beginning of each lesson, teachers frame the learning journey and determine the direction of knowledge acquisition by asking a question. This encourages discussion and provides links to prior learning. Children are presented with a visual talking point from Explorify, which helps to promote reasoning and gives opportunities to support Scientific vocabulary. The substantive concepts (Processes and Systems – Function – Variation – Cause and Effect and Change) ensure that knowledge is deepened and progression is achieved. There is an expectation that working scientifically is a feature of every lesson, whereby the children make predictions and communicate results. At the end of each unit, children complete a quiz to review their learning and understanding.  

How Do We Assess And Evaluate Our Science Curriculum?

Assessment in Science is purposeful, supportive and designed to help children know more and remember more about the scientific world. At the end of each unit, pupils complete a child‑friendly quiz that helps teachers check pupils’ understanding of key scientific knowledge, concepts and vocabulary. This works alongside an active and thriving AFL mindset embedded throughout all teaching and learning, where ongoing observations, practical investigations, questioning and discussion help teachers identify strengths and next steps. When assessing and evaluating the overall impact of our science curriculum, we look closely at how children are developing across several key areas. These include: 

An increased breadth and depth of scientific knowledge (substantive knowledge) Pupils build secure understanding across biology, chemistry and physics, developing accurate and meaningful knowledge that they can recall and apply. Carefully designed Subject Specific Outcomes bring high focus learning to the forefront and ensure that all lessons keep intended outcomes firmly in mind throughout the teaching. High expectations for oracy enable pupils to talk about their learning and for teachers to assess and identify any gaps. 

A growing understanding of how science works as a discipline, including enquiry, investigation and use of evidence (disciplinary knowledge) Children learn how scientific ideas are developed through systematic enquiry, fair testing, observation and the interpretation of data. There is summative tracking of pupils’ attainment and progress across terms, years and phases 

How Can You Help At Home?

- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6svr82 Key Stage 1 BBC Bitesize 

- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9q Key Stage 2 BBC Bitesize 

- https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources/collections/science Science in STEM 

- https://www.booksfortopics.com/booklists/topics/science-maths-computing/  Science books for interest and links to topics 

Clubs, Trips and Enrichment 

During British Science Week (March-April) each year, the whole school engages in fun, meaningful and exciting experiences designed to encourage curiosity, develop curriculum knowledge and spark Scientific interest. There are many opportunities for children to share information and learning, either across their year group or even across different key stages. Year 5 plan and deliver a NASA Space Conference, to parents and carers to showcase their learning and understanding of different planets. Key Stage 1 and EYFS developing their understanding of animals including humans, by looking after chicks. This allows them to see firsthand life processes and links to many areas of their thematic learning and Scientific discovery. We are fortunate to have many parents linked to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) domains and we are fortunate to often welcome them into school to deliver assemblies and share their knowledge and passion for science. Year 3 visit the Science and Industry Museum to access experiments first hand in their experiment gallery. 

Meet the Subject Leader

Meet the leader