As St Nic’s Scientists we wonder, we investigate and we discover
At St Nicholas, we believe that science helps children develop a deep understanding of the natural world and the important role science plays in everyday life. Through science, children are encouraged to be curious, ask questions and seek answers through observation, investigation and discovery.
Our Science Curriculum
Our carefully sequenced curriculum develops knowledge and understanding across the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics whilst building children's ability to work scientifically. Children learn to observe, question, predict, classify, test, measure, record, interpret and evaluate as they progress through the school. These skills are revisited and built upon year after year, enabling children to think and work like real scientists.
Learning begins in EYFS through the Understanding the World educational programme, where children explore habitats, seasonal change, plants and the natural environment. These early experiences provide the foundations for the scientific knowledge and enquiry skills that are progressively developed throughout the science curriculum.
As children move through the school, they explore a wide range of scientific concepts including animals and humans, plants, materials, forces, light, electricity, sound, states of matter, Earth and Space, classification and evolution. Through practical investigations and enquiry-based learning, children deepen their understanding whilst developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
A key feature of our curriculum is our "Science in Our World" approach, which helps children make meaningful connections between classroom learning and the world around them. Whether investigating habitats in our school grounds, understanding healthy lifestyles, exploring sustainable materials or learning how scientific discoveries shape modern life, children recognise the relevance of science beyond the classroom and develop an appreciation of how science impacts their daily lives.
Through science, we aim to nurture curiosity, resilience and a lifelong love of learning, ensuring every child leaves St Nicholas equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand and engage with the world around them.
As St Nic’s Scientists:
We wonder.
We investigate.
We discover.
This is reflected in every stage of our science curriculum as children ask questions, test ideas, gather evidence and use their learning to make sense of the world around them.
What Science Looks Like at St Nic’s
Our science curriculum provides opportunities for children to:
- Ask questions about the world around them.
- Plan and carry out scientific enquiries.
- Observe changes over time.
- Identify, classify and compare.
- Conduct fair tests and investigations.
- Gather, record and interpret data.
- Use scientific vocabulary accurately.
- Apply their learning to real-life contexts.
Children are encouraged to think like scientists, developing resilience, independence and confidence while learning from both success and failure.
Working Scientifically
Working scientifically is at the heart of our curriculum. As children progress through the school, they develop the skills needed to investigate evidence, make predictions, draw conclusions and communicate their findings effectively.
By revisiting and building upon these skills each year, children become increasingly confident in carrying out enquiries, analysing evidence and understanding how scientific knowledge is developed.
Science in EYFS
Reception science is delivered through our bespoke Discovery curriculum and through in-the-moment learning opportunities within our provision and the wider environment. It supports and develops the EYFS Understanding the World educational programme. Children explore seasonal change, weather, animals, plants, habitats and the natural world through play, observation and investigation, building the foundations for the scientific knowledge and enquiry skills taught throughout the science curriculum.
Enriching Science
We believe science should be hands-on, memorable and inspiring. Children have opportunities to explore the outdoors, take part in practical investigations and make links between their learning and the wider world. Through these experiences, they develop a sense of awe and wonder and begin to understand the important role science plays in shaping our future.
Through science, we support our vision to Aim High, Be Courageous and Show Love, nurturing curious, reflective and resilient learners who are ready to engage with and contribute positively to the world around them.
The National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
- Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
- Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
