At Potton Primary School, our pupils experience the foundations of the scientific disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Following the latest national curriculum guidelines, pupils are encouraged to explore the world around them; making observations to predict what might happen and draw conclusions based upon what they have discovered. Every year our pupils progress to the next year's group and this progression continues as they revisit and broaden their knowledge of key scientific concepts.  We use Developing Experts to teach our science lessons.

In Key Stage 1, we look closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around us. Pupils begin by making observations and asking questions to satisfy their own curiosity. We then guide their discovery of scientific understanding by support and enquiry to answer their own questions.

Programme Overview Key Stage 1:

Year 1: Plants, Animals (Including Humans), Everyday Materials and Seasonal Changes.

Year 2: Plants, Living Things and their Habitats, Animals (Including Humans) and the Uses of Everyday Materials.

After building the foundations of scientific enquiry in Key Stage 1, pupils can broaden their scientific view of the world around them. At the beginning of Key Stage 2, ideas about everyday phenomena are tested and we challenge their ideas about the relationships between living things and familiar environments. Collaborative investigations are important at this stage of learning as our pupils think about the best way to carry out simple and comparative fair tests.

Programme Overview Key Stage 2:

Year 3: Animals (Including Humans), Plants, Light, Rocks, Forces and Magnets.

Year 4: Animals (Including Humans), Living Things and their Habitats, States of Matter, Electricity and Sound.

Year 5: Working Scientifically, Living Things and Their Habitats, Animals Inc. humans, Properties and Changes of Materials, Earth and Space, Forces.

Year 6: Working Scientifically, Living Things and Their Habitats, Animals Inc. humans, Evolution and Inheritance, Light, Electricity.