Science

At the Ridgeway School, Science is taught from Nursery through to Key Stage 4, taking account of pupils’ levels of understanding and how old they are. In the Early Years this is taught through Understanding of the world. The guidelines from the National Curriculum updated in May 2015, form the basis of how we teach Science at Ridgeway.  We try to ensure that Science is creative, motivating, meaningful, engaging and relevant to the pupils, depending on their individual needs and the targets we are working towards. 

We feel that it helps to use a combination of approaches, to appeal to the different learning styles of the pupils.  Science works very well with our “Thinking Skills” curriculum which encourages independent learning.  Communication is core to everything we teach at Ridgeway and is taught discreetly in Science. We encourage “active” sessions throughout the curriculum, this is both to support hands on/doing learning, as well as practical and meaningful experience and engagement. 

We realise the importance of engagement, (attention and focus), and we acknowledge that deeper learning can only occur when pupils are fully engaged and have resources matched to their personal learning styles.

Science sits within the Science Faculty and once a year there is a Science Curriculum Focus Week with a specific focus and theme, which may include visits from Exotic animals, a pop up planetarium or hatching of live chicks or ducklings.

Science is happening all around us and we aim to teach our pupils to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes, at their ability and level of understanding.

We assess Science at Ridgeway through our online Assessment tool: COMPAS which captures the student’s Linear Milestones, (academic progress measure), Thinking Skills and Engagement Steps.  If you would like further information on how we assess students, please ask class teachers who can explain how we use the information from assessments we gather to help us identify the best next learning steps for each child.