At SBSP we follow the White Rose Science curriculum, which is designed to give pupils a secure understanding of the world through a scientific lens. Our curriculum covers the full breadth of the National Curriculum in the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics, and builds knowledge progressively from Year 1 to Year 6. Pupils encounter engaging and thought-provoking topics such as animals including humans, plants, living things and their habitats, materials, rocks, forces, sound, light, electricity, Earth and space, seasonal change, evolution and inheritance, and states of matter.

Through carefully sequenced units, children develop a strong foundation of substantive knowledge – the scientific facts, concepts and vocabulary they need – alongside disciplinary knowledge, the skills of ‘working scientifically’. Pupils learn to ask questions, make predictions, plan and carry out enquiries, make observations, take measurements, gather and record data, present findings, draw conclusions and, in Key Stage 2, evaluate their methods and results. These skills are revisited and developed each year, enabling pupils to work with greater independence, precision and scientific rigour over time.

The White Rose Science curriculum ensures that children’s knowledge deepens and connects as they move through the school. For example, in Year 1 pupils may begin by identifying and naming parts of the human body, and by Year 6 they are able to explain how the circulatory system functions and how lifestyle choices impact health. Similarly, early learning about materials develops into sophisticated understanding of reversible and irreversible changes, and from recognising that shadows form when light is blocked, pupils progress to explaining how light travels in straight lines.

Scientific enquiry is embedded throughout. Pupils explore over-time observations, pattern seeking, identifying, classifying and grouping, comparative and fair testing, and research using secondary sources. Substantive knowledge is taught before investigation, ensuring children have the understanding to interpret what they see and make informed conclusions. They also learn about the work and discoveries of a diverse range of scientists, recognising the global and historical nature of scientific endeavour.

Our curriculum gives pupils multiple opportunities to revisit, secure and extend their understanding, while building a rich specialist vocabulary. Teachers use this progression to identify and close any gaps in knowledge. Ultimately, our aim is for every child to leave SBSP with curiosity, confidence and the skills to investigate, question and contribute to the world through science – ready for the demands of secondary school and beyond.