At Highfield Middle School, our core purpose for science is to deliver an engaging and challenging curriculum so that pupils develop a scientific perspective of the world around them and can make informed decisions. We aim to prepare our pupils effectively for the future to make them confident, responsible members of the school and wider community and to set them on the path to success for their KS4 exams.Our schemes of work at both key stages include a wide range of scientific topics clearly divided into biology, chemistry and physics units. This allows all pupils to follow a balanced curriculum based on the national curriculum. The topics are cyclical and build on prior learning. As well as developing our pupils’ knowledge and understanding of scientific theory, our curriculum has an integrated ‘working scientifically’ component and a clear focus on scientific literacy and communication that seeks to develop students’ confidence in articulating their scientific ideas.

Working scientifically is the set of skills that enable someone to work as a scientist. It is on this foundation of skills that the three main areas of content sit. Working scientifically covers both the skills needed for thinking about scientific problems and the skills needed to process data – in turn by experiencing the successes and failures of scientific investigation students will build up resilience. An essential component of working scientifically is doing things in a scientific way and understanding the use of ‘the scientific method’. Pupils should understand that science is about working objectively, modifying explanations to take account of new evidence and ideas and subjecting results to peer review.

Pupils are also given career information, advice and guidance with several opportunities to talk about different scientific roles and we are expanding the opportunities for pupils to meet scientists from academia and industry.

Year 5 and 6 pupils receive two lessons of Science per week, year 7 and 8 receive 3 lessons of science per week.