Bowlee Park uses the National Curriculum for science as the basis of its curriculum planning. This has been adapted to the local circumstances of the school in that we make use of the local environment in our fieldwork.

At Bowlee Park, our science curriculum is based on the key constructs: knowledge, skills, progression and experience. Knowledge, together with skills and opportunities to apply learning, leads to strong progress. Our science curriculum delivers progressive and cumulative knowledge acquisition. Lessons are planned so that there is a carefully sequenced journey through the concept being taught building through small progressive steps.  In recognition of the high quality science teaching and learning in school we achieved the ‘Primary Science Quality Mark’ which is awarded to schools who demonstrate excellence in primary science.

Understanding the world is one of the 4 specific areas of learning in Early Year Foundation Stage. Science makes a significant contribution to developing a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world.  Curriculum content is taught through topics, linked to high quality narratives that develop children’s language and their knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live. Pupils are able to explore challenges that allow them to learn through play in order for children to make sense of the world around them.

During Years 1 to 6, science is taught through weekly subject specific lessons. Wherever possible, links are made between science and other subjects, particularly literacy, maths and computing. As pupils develop knowledge, they need to practise and master the working scientifically skills to allow them to apply this knowledge in a wide variety of contexts. From Foundation stage to the end of Key Stage 2, the skills of working scientifically underpin all science lessons at our school. The working scientifically skills teach children to ask questions, make predictions, set up tests, observe and measure, record data, interpret and communicate results and evaluate investigations. Children learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions. They observe over time; seek patterns; identify, classify and group as well as complete comparative or fair testing. These skills are revisited through each topic and assessed on a termly basis.

At Bowlee Park we develop the pupil’s science capital through the science curriculum which includes trips, visitors as well and enrichment activities. These are integral to learning and enhance pupils’ engagement. We aim to broaden the children’s understanding of what science is and how it applies to everyday life. We do this by teaching about a range of scientists including ones working today and famous figures from history.  One science ambassador is democratically voted to represent each class at Bowlee Park. They champion science within their own classrooms and advocate pupil voice.

In the ‘Science At Home’ section you will find more resources and information. There are ideas for simple investigations that can be done at home using household equipment as well as information about the scientist of the month.

Science Ambassadors

Our Bowlee Park Science Ambassadors are children from Years 1-6 who are democratically elected by their class to participate in the group each year.  They love learning about science and want to share their knowledge with others. The Science Ambassadors aim to raise the profile of science at Bowlee Park by leading learning and participating in events to raise the science capital of all pupils.

Science Ambassadors help during lessons as an expert in their class. They also support their peers to work scientifically when conducting investigations. They speak to their class about science news and famous scientists. The Science Ambassadors are an important source of pupil voice and help the Science Team understand how children feel about science across school. They also lead the activities we do during British Science Week.

British Science Week 

We participate in British Science Week every year. British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that happens each year. There is an overarching theme and previously these have been Growth, Innovating the Future and Our Diverse Planet.

To celebrate science week we have previously held poster competitions, assemblies, science workshops, visitors and one off experiments.

Great Science Share

In June 2024 the ambassadors for Year 5 and 6 participated in the Great Science Share at the University of Salford. This is where primary school children from across the North West are invited to share an experiment they have created.

Our pupils planned and presented an investigation that asked the question: How can we change the pitch of a sound? They were able to talk confidently about their experiment and demonstrate it to lots of people. They were also able to participate in other school's experiments that covered topics such as recycling, making batteries and how the heart beats.

Types Of Enquiry

The Science Ambassadors lead learning on the 5 types of enquiry we study at Bowlee Park. They participate in an activity in their meeting and then share it with their class about it and have a go before the next meeting.

Science Ambassadors conducted a fair test to see what would happen if you mixed different amounts of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. This lead to a lot of fun, do you know what will happen?

The science ambassadors have also planted and taken care of sunflowers in the school garden, watering them and using stakes to support them. They have observed them over the season and discussed the changes. In previous years we have a competition between classes to grow the tallest sunflower.