Science
Curriculum
Science at St Paulinus fosters curiosity, investigation and an appreciation of the natural world. Our curriculum is coherent, cumulative and connected: pupils revisit core concepts such as materials, living things, forces and animals, including humans across year groups, each time at greater depth. Children develop substantive knowledge (scientific facts and concepts) alongside disciplinary skills (working scientifically — observing, predicting, testing, recording and concluding). Over time, they come to understand how science shapes our lives, advances society and connects with other subjects such as maths, geography and DT.
Vocabulary
Scientific vocabulary is introduced explicitly and applied in context so pupils can reason and communicate scientifically. Key terms such as hypothesis, variable, evaporation, ecosystem, friction, gravity and photosynthesis are taught progressively, ensuring that language builds from simple to complex. Vocabulary is revisited and refined, supporting both conceptual understanding and precision in explanation.
Implementation
Science is taught through engaging, enquiry-based lessons. Pupils learn through hands-on investigations, structured experiments and opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. Lessons are sequenced carefully so children revisit prior learning, strengthening memory and understanding. Teachers explicitly model scientific enquiry, supporting pupils to ask questions, plan investigations, record and analyse results and draw conclusions. Retrieval tasks and knowledge organisers help embed learning over time, while assessment ensures teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all learners.
Click below to view our Long Term Overview for Science:
