The teaching and learning of Science at St Anthony’s aims to provide an engaging curriculum that inspires children, developing their natural curiosities as young learners.
Our school’s Science scheme follows the National Curriculum and in Key Stage 1 is based around the topics of ‘Plants’, ‘Animals, including humans’, ‘Everyday materials’, ‘Seasonal changes’ and ‘Living things and their habitats’.
The children in KS2 study the topics of ‘Plants’, ‘Animals, including humans’, ‘Rocks’, ‘Light’, ‘Forces and Magnets’, ‘Living things and their habitats’, ‘States of Matter’, ‘Sound’, ‘Electricity’, ‘Properties and Changes of Materials’, ‘Earth and Space’ and ‘Evolution and Inheritance’.
We aim to strengthen and develop children’s Scientific knowledge and the ability to work well Scientifically, with creativity and resilience. Within each topic of learning the curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop their working scientifically skills. Such as, asking relevant questions, setting up practical enquires and fair tests, making careful observations and measurements, choosing how to record information, explain their results using scientific language to draw conclusions and carrying out research using secondary sources to find answers to questions.
Science is often taught in a cross curricular way, enabling children to make wider links with other areas of learning. The curriculum is taught both inside and outside the classroom, with children learning how to take care of the environment and the wider world. Throughout their school journey, the children learn about a range of Scientists, including Mary Anning, Charles Macintosh, Edward Jenner, Mae Jemison, Isaac Newton and Galileo. A range of enrichment opportunities enable children to develop their knowledge and understanding. These include visiting Boxmoor Park in the EYFS to support their learning about minibeasts, Willows Farm in Year 1 to support the topic ‘Animals including humans’, visiting Hudnall Park in Year 3 when learning about rocks, fossils and soils and The Sea Life Aquarium in Year 6.
We intend to promote the knowledge and understanding of how Science is used in the wider world to equip children with the skills to become lifelong learners.
Computing helps to promote initiative, independent learning and active participation in a rapidly changing world.
The three aspects of computing are: Digital Literacy, Information Technology and Computer Science.
We follow a scheme of work that looks at each of the different aspects of Computing and allow the children to learn, practise and develop their skills in, programming, creating and editing media, networks and data collection and collating.
The children develop these aspects as they work with a variety of hardware and software. In computing they learn to control and program devices both on and off screen, in the real and virtual worlds. They use a range of digital media to record, improve and present their work in all subjects. As they progress through the school, they become confident and discriminating users of digital technology and communication tools. The e-safety message is emphasised throughout the curriculum; the children are taught how to stay safe online and given a range of ways to report concerns and inappropriate behaviour.