Intent

At Perry Hall, we want our children to be curious about natural phenomena and to be excited by the process of understanding the world around them. We want them to understand how science enables them to do this and to know that it provides a body of knowledge that has been generated in a way that can be trusted. It is not biased or based on opinion and can therefore be relied upon. We encourage them to work scientifically by asking scientific questions, using scientific vocabulary, planning and carrying out investigations and analysing their results. In order to promote scientific thinking and to help embed learning in the children’s memories, we carry out practical investigations, which encourage their curiosity and make learning exciting. 

Our carefully planned curriculum is designed to develop a clear progression of knowledge and skills from year to year. When introduced to new topics, children will be taught the substantive knowledge (the knowing ’that’) first, before the disciplinary knowledge (the knowing ‘how’) which is often more investigative. By carefully sequencing the knowledge taught and the progression of skills learned, it will revisit, not repeat prior learning as children progress through the school, with the aim of adding knowledge to things already learnt. Units have been planned to coincide with natural events such as the seasons, so that learning takes advantage of the timely resources provided by nature and also to link with our Expedition learning whenever possible. Opportunities to apply appropriate English and Mathematics skills will also be identified by teachers and embedded into the learning activities. 

We have designed our curriculum to be accessible to all children. Because of the nature of science, it lends itself to being learnt by children of all abilities. Learning science encourages children to work together, to gather evidence, to discuss issues, to weigh up possibilities, to listen to others and to make conclusions that are based on evidence. The means by which each of these stages is recorded will be adapted according to the needs of the individual children so that learning and progress is not limited by their writing or verbal ability. In each unit they study, children will be introduced to the relevant scientific vocabulary and supported in using it appropriately in their explanations. 

At Perry Hall our science curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and we will use resources from the Kent Science Scheme and Snap Science online learning tool to enable our talented teachers to deliver memorable learning experiences for the children. To promote science further within the school and ensure pupils develop greater investigative and scientific skills, all year groups will complete STEAM challenges over the course of the year.

Enrichment Activities 

Learning is brought to life at Perry Hall by a range of enrichment activities which encourage them to use their knowledge and understanding in practical ways and to apply their learning to real-life situations. These will include: 

Plants 

● Planting, feeding, growing and harvesting vegetables 

● Planting, feeding and growing flowers 

Animals 

● Hatching ducklings 

● Duck growth and development 

● Guinea pig growth and development 

● Chicken growth and development 

● Observing caterpillars develop and grow into butterflies 

Visitors to the school 

● Bromley Life Bus 

● Zoolab 

● Cats Protection League 

● PDSA 

● David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation 

● Healthcare Professionals 

Trips to places of scientific interest or importance 

● The Science Museum, London 

● A science and maths day at St Olave's Grammar School

● The Greenwich Observatory