Science

Science teaching at Ormiston South Parade Academy aims to enable children to be confident to ask their own scientific questions and be able to follow their own line of enquiry through creating an investigation or setting up an observation. We want children to be able to analyse the data they find and be able to use it to draw their own conclusions to answer their own enquiry questions. By the time the children leave OSPA we want them to be resourceful individuals who are able to adapt and access the ever-changing jobs and professions in STEM industries.

The delivery

In the classroom, teachers create a positive atmosphere and reinforce the expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following;

  • Science is planned in topic blocks by the class teacher at the start of the academic year ensuring previous learning is revised and built upon to provide a greater depth of knowledge and understanding.
  • Through our planning, children are encouraged to ask their own questions and are given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often providing a problem and context for the children to work scientifically to resolve. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills, and work to plug gaps and overcome misconceptions that arise.
  • Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school life and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching.
  • Teachers provide the children with many opportunities to use a range of scientific equipment to develop their enquiry-based learning.
  • Children are offered a wide range of trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class and provide examples of the STEM subjects in action.