Welcome to the Science Curriculum Page.

Subject leader - Ella Leighton

Email address - eleighton@longcause.plymouth.sch.uk

Science Curriculum Intent Statement

Intent:

What will our pupils experience throughout their Science Curriculum at Longcause?

At Longcause our pupils will experience science sessions that aim to give them the foundations to understand the world in which they live and see around them.   Pupils will experience

• scientific ideas clearly explained and demonstrated to them in a variety of ways 
• hands-on science sessions where they will be encouraged to explore and experience things for themselves in order to develop a sense of curiosity and being to ask questions
• scientific language being introduced when/where appropriate
• how they,  the environment, the world and beyond are all interconnected and what they see and experience has a reason or cause rather than being unpredictable

Why do we want this?

We want our pupils to experience science in this way so that they gain a real and working knowledge and understanding of the world around them and how many things are not just interconnected but also cyclical.  This is pivotal for our pupils as it will help them make sense of what they see around them every day and hopefully decrease some of the unpredictability that they currently fear. Our hope is that this in turn will lead to them being increasingly willing, and even initiating exploration of the world beyond their immediate environment and so slowly extend the size of the world in which they feel comfortable to be in.  

Implementation: 

Explorers

Explore the natural world around them through planned cross curricular sessions and learning activities, local walks and visiting local places of interest.  They will be encouraged and supported in safely using their senses to explore and investigate, as well as being exposed to basic scientific vocabulary and concepts such as the names of animals, language relating to temperature and seasonal changes.

Adventurers

Those pupils following the Adventurers pathway will start by learning about ideas and concepts which directly relate to them or that they experience  such as everyday materials, their bodies and the seasons.  They will have  their science delivered in 2 specific science sessions per week.  The content will follow the  Plymouth Science Scheme.  Over the course of a year, to allow our pupils the time and repetition that they need, in order to learn and understand ideas and concepts Adventurer pupils will work through the blocks based upon the 3 areas of science (biology, chemistry or physics).  Each year building on what they have previously learnt and retained .

Key Stage 4

Opportunities for recognised qualifications will be given in Key Stage 4. At present KS4 pupils will cover four different Units made up of different AQA units.  Pupils will work on the units within strand A, those who are able will be extended and those who need more support or struggle to comprehend ideas and concepts within strand A can follow strand B.  

Unit 1 - how all living things are made of cells and the similarities and differences between them

Unit 2 - wide range of practical skills such as measuring weight and length accurately 

Unit 3 - what causes diseases and how they are able to take steps to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill in the future

Unit 4 -DNA and how traits are inherited as well as including a crime scene investigation practical day at Plymouth College

Impact:

Our hope is that our pupils leave Longcause with, where relevant, a qualification and a real interest in the world around them as well as an enquiring mind. We wish for them to have an increased understanding of the world in which they live and how their actions can cause positive effects on themselves,  their environment and beyond. We want our pupils to start to understand more about the world in which they live and will increasingly want to explore it and discover things for themselves as well as understanding what they see.