Bethany C of E Junior School: Our Science Curriculum Intent 

At Bethany C of E Junior School, we aim to develop pupils’ curiosity, awe and understanding of the natural and physical world through a broad, ambitious Science curriculum across biology, chemistry and physics. We help every child understand the relevance of science in everyday life and their place in a diverse world, enabling them to ask questions, explain phenomena and make informed choices. We embed Bethany Junior School’s values of Hope, Compassion and Courage through scientific learning, encouraging pupils to persevere, collaborate and act responsibly towards the world around them. 

Our curriculum is designed to secure substantive knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics, including living things, materials, forces, electricity, Earth and space, and seasonal change. Pupils develop disciplinary knowledge through working scientifically: observing, classifying, testing, measuring, recording, concluding and evaluating. In addition, they build precise scientific vocabulary so pupils can describe ideas clearly, explain cause and effect and communicate findings confidently.  

Our sequence of learning enables pupils to revisit and deepen key concepts across Years 3 to 6, through practical enquiry which progresses from teacher-guided observation and simple tests to independent investigations, explanation and evaluation. Scientific vocabulary, recording methods and reasoning become increasingly precise, preparing pupils for the demands of secondary science. 

All pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, access the full Science curriculum through clear scaffolding, adapted resources and purposeful vocabulary support. Learning is designed to be inclusive, drawing on practical activity, visual prompts and repeated retrieval to support memory and understanding.