Science
School Vision
To give all the opportunity to be who God created them to be and have fullness of life.
Our Science Vision
High quality science education that inspires pupils to, and prepares them for, work in scientific industries.
Synthesised knowledge that enables children to think critically about the world around them and solve problems that are yet to be discovered.
What does it mean to be a scientist? What do scientists do?
Why is it important to know what it means to be a scientist?
Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that, by the age of seven, children have already begun making assumptions about what type of people will enter different types of work and what sort of careers may be possible for them. Indeed, the report finds that commonly ‘young people consider only the jobs that are already familiar to them, from friends and family.’
’The effects of this are long-lasting as the research found ‘minimal changes’ in the career attitudes between the ages of 7 and 17.
St Peter’s Elwick Church of England Primary School take their responsibility to careers education seriously and are guided by the OECD’s statement of
“You can’t be what you can’t see.”
Local Labour Market Information
| Sector | Hartlepool (%) | National (%) |
| Manufacturing (including engineering solutions) | 12.1 | 8.1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2.8 | 0.5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| Construction | 6 | 4.7 |
How do we support this work?
The opportunities we give our pupils to raise awareness of different careers and prepare them for the world of work, including in scientific industries, can be found in our Careers Protocol
Our Careers Protocol can be accessed here
Who have we been talking to?
| Chris Packham | Lucy Hawking | Ventsislav K. Valev |
| Naturalist, Photographer, and Wildlife TV Presenter | English journalist, novelist, educator, and philanthropist. She is the daughter of the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and writer Jane Wilde Hawking | Professor of Physics, University of Bath |
The St Peter’s Science Curriculum
At the heart of the St Peter’s Science curriculum is the substantive and disciplinary knowledge that children need to prepare them for success in their education journey and to prepare them for work in scientific industries.
Substantive science knowledge is the core learning from the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
Disciplinary science knowledge is the understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them. This also includes the application of mathematical knowledge to collect, present and analyse data. Success in this strand enables pupils to work scientifically and appreciate the contribution and development of scientific knowledge over time (threaded through our Disciplinary Knowledge Strand Progression – see below)
Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and makes use of the Science Capital Teaching Approach from UCL and Kings College research (Godec, S., King, H. & Archer, L. (2017) The Science Capital Teaching Approach: engaging students with science, promoting social justice. London: University College London).
Our Science Principles
1. Personalising and Localising
Our Science curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and is personalised to the needs of our pupils and their local context. We have strong links with local industry and hear from guest speakers (at local, national and international level) from a range of scientific disciplines.
2. Eliciting, Valuing and Linking
Children are given lots of opportunities to explore and ask questions. Curiosity is highly valued. We encourage children to make links between their knowledge and with the wider world of science. Children know where their studies can take them.
3. Pupil Leadership and Careers (Building the Science Capital Dimensions)
Pupils have the opportunity to lead on areas of Science through our STEM Ambassadors, Junior Leadership Team and Lab Technicians groups. These groups make a valuable contribution to Science at whole-school level. Our Careers Protocol supports understanding and engagement with the work of scientists.
Key Documents
Science Disciplinary Knowledge Strand Progression
Science Substantive Knowledge Strand Progression Document
The Ogden Trust Lead School
St Peter’s Elwick Church of England Primary School is the Lead School for the Hartlepool Ogden Trust Science Partnership.
Links with industry have enabled our pupils to experience a mobile planetarium, STEM Chats and educational visits to local industry.
PD Ports
Red Gap Wind Farm
EDF Energy Visit
This partnership brings CPD opportunities and resources to schools in our local area and beyond as well as enabling staff to share best practice. We are a partnership of 9 primary schools from across the North East with associate secondary and sixth form partners.
STEM Club
Our weekly after-school STEM club is well attended by pupils from Reception to Y6.
Reading in Science
Our Y5/6 Reading Passports include the following texts:
Useful Links for parents
Oak Academy – https://www.thenational.academy/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgIvqk7PE-gIVFOvtCh0yigEXEAAYASAAEgJNe_D_BwE
Stemettes (Girls in Science) – https://stemettes.org/
BBC Bitesize Science – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z7nygk7
Science Boot Camp for Upper Key Stage 2 https://www.yearsix.co.uk/science-boot-camp/
Science Museum – https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/home
Science Experiments you can try at home – https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/g32176446/science-experiments-for-kids/ British Space Agency – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
Any clubs, websites, agencies and organisations listed on this webpage outside of St Peter’s Elwick CofE Primary School are independent of the school.
