Science

In Science, we aim to enthuse children with a love of and curiosity for natural phenomena and events around them. We want our pupils to explore their surroundings with confidence, developing and deepening their understanding of the world in which they live. They are encouraged to explain what they see occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. We aspire for our children to have high expectations of themselves and to learn about diversity in science, including important scientists whose discoveries have shaped the way we live. It is important that pupils understand how major scientific ideas and individuals, for example Beatrix Potter, have contributed to societal change — impacting industry, medicine, business, and improving quality of life. We also aim to instil a sense of global and local citizenship by helping children appreciate the importance of making responsible, informed, and sustainable lifestyle choices that minimise our impact on the environment.

Science at Penruddock Primary School develops scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. Our curriculum is carefully planned as a progressive sequence of topics, accommodating mixed‑age class structures. Scientific skills are embedded within each sequence of lessons, providing opportunities to ask questions, observe and investigate, compare and record findings, and draw conclusions. Communication is key, and pupils are immersed in subject‑specific language to build confidence in using scientific vocabulary and articulating concepts clearly. Lessons are practical, hands‑on, and full of fun and discovery. Outdoor learning is often used to support creative activities such as drawing and sketching, which are encouraged as basic scientific skills.

By offering an inclusive, progressive, creative, and inspiring curriculum with real‑life links, we ensure children gain a meaningful understanding of scientific knowledge, methods, processes, and applications. This approach results in a fun, engaging, high‑quality Science education that provides pupils with strong foundations for understanding the world. Evidence of impact can be seen in pupils’ work, photos, displays, and discussions. Through well‑designed lessons, workshops, trips, and interactions with experts, children learn that science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Enriching experiences help pupils see science in context and foster an emotional connection with the natural environment.

We also make use of our local community and wider resources to enrich the science curriculum. Children benefit from outdoor spaces such as woodland, orchards, ponds, and wildflower areas for fieldwork, as well as visits to museums and places of scientific interest. Community projects that link science with other subjects, and learning from people working in scientific professions, provide further inspiration. We mark occasions such as World Science Week, Earth Day, STEM Week, and British Science Week with assemblies, visitors, and activities that enhance children’s scientific learning.

Curriculum Overview

Science Long term plan

Science Progression map

Skill Progression

Beautiful Butterfly

Class one had a new arrival over the May half term! They've watched the caterpillars grow and turn into chrysalis, then over the half term holidays our beautiful butterfly emerged and was released into the garden!

Class 1 Butterfly

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Forces with Class Three: Investigating Balancing Forces Using Levers

Forces with Class 3- Experimenting with Catapults

Reception have been hunting for and identifying minibeasts!

Blencathra Class are looking at how things grow this half term. They've been busy planting and learning about the different parts of plants, we'll keep you updated on any plant growth!

Helvellyn explored soil with magnifying glasses and sieves to find out what it is made of.

Helvellyn finding out all about rocks

Reception hunt for signs of Spring!

Reception children went on the hunt for signs of spring around school, they did some writing and drawing of the things they found.

Blencathra Class interview Neil Armstrong!

The children wrote questions in English and then we used an AI DexBot to ask questions!

Signs of Winter

The children were out on the school field looking for signs of winter; finding ice in the mud kitchen and the water tray, frost on the leaves and branches and making footprints on the frosty grass.