At St. James CE Primary School, our Science curriculum is rooted in our Christian vision of“Life in all its Fullness” (John 10:10). We believe that science helps children to make sense of the world around them, develop curiosity about how things work and understand the impact that scientific discoveries have on our everyday lives. Through rich and engaging scientific learning, pupils are encouraged to ask questions, seek evidence and develop a sense of wonder about God’s world while becoming confident and knowledgeable young scientists.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the principles of Teach, Nurture and Celebrate.
We Teach knowledge and skills through the carefully sequenced CUSP Science curriculum. The curriculum is organised around the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, ensuring that pupils build their scientific knowledge progressively throughout their primary education. Alongside substantive knowledge, children develop disciplinary knowledge through the explicit teaching of Working Scientifically. Pupils learn how to ask questions, make observations, identify and classify, seek patterns, conduct fair tests, gather and analyse data, draw conclusions and communicate their findings. Through this approach, children learn not only what scientists know, but how scientists discover and develop new knowledge.
Science at St. James helps pupils to understand how scientific knowledge has shaped our understanding of the world and continues to influence everyday life. Through studying topics such as electricity, forces, materials, space, habitats, evolution and the human body, children develop an appreciation of how science underpins technological advances, healthcare, environmental protection and innovation. They learn that scientific ideas evolve over time as new evidence emerges and that curiosity, critical thinking and perseverance are central to scientific progress.
We Nurture a sense of love and hope in ourselves and others by encouraging curiosity, resilience and respect for the natural world. Our curriculum promotes understanding of the living world and our responsibility to care for it, while helping children appreciate the ways science can improve lives and solve global challenges. Through the study of habitats, biodiversity, climate, sustainability and environmental change, pupils learn how scientific understanding can support a more sustainable future.
A key strength of our curriculum is the deliberate inclusion of a diverse range of scientists and scientific pioneers. Children learn about scientists from different time periods, cultures and backgrounds, including Mae Jemison, Maria Merian, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Carl Linnaeus, Alfred Wallace, Charles Darwin, William Harvey and others whose discoveries have transformed our understanding of the world. These studies help children recognise that science is shaped by people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, while also challenging historical misconceptions and highlighting the importance of evidence in scientific thinking. This broad representation helps all pupils see themselves as potential scientists and innovators in the future.
We Celebrate achievements and enquiring minds by providing memorable scientific experiences that bring learning to life. Educational visits and hands-on investigations are embedded throughout the curriculum, enabling pupils to apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts. Children benefit from visits to the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham, Techniquest in Cardiff, and regular learning opportunities within our Forest School and outdoor environment, where they explore plants, habitats, growth, biodiversity and environmental change first-hand. These experiences enrich classroom learning, deepen scientific understanding and inspire children to ask questions about the world around them.
Practical investigation is at the heart of science at St. James. Pupils are encouraged to think critically, challenge ideas, evaluate evidence and communicate their reasoning confidently. Through enquiry-based learning, they develop the confidence to test hypotheses, learn from mistakes and understand that scientific discovery often begins with a question. We celebrate creativity, perseverance and curiosity as essential characteristics of successful scientists.
Through our Science curriculum, pupils leave St. James with a secure body of scientific knowledge, a strong understanding of how science informs and shapes the world around them, and the ability to think and work scientifically. By developing curiosity, critical thinking and a sense of responsibility for the world they inhabit, we equip children to flourish as informed citizens, problem-solvers and lifelong learners, living life in all its fullness.