Intent:

Science at Ashbourne Primary School encourages curiosity, develops inquisitive minds and fosters a fascination with how the world works.

Our work is underpinned by our vision and aims: ‘Nurturing aspiration through happy, creative learning’. Our PRAISE aims are at the heart of every lesson and our focus on the removal of barriers to learning is firmly embedded into all areas of the Science curriculum.

At Ashbourne Primary, children will learn and enjoy science through practical and investigative work. As they move through the year groups, children will develop and test their own hypotheses, create a fair test and understand how changing variables affects outcomes. Children are taught how to use age-appropriate equipment and resources safely and accurately, from magnifying glasses in the exploration of habitats, to house-hold acids and alkalines to test their effect on different materials. Children with Special Educational Needs will be supported to access the science curriculum in the classroom by teacher support and variation of task and questioning to make age related objectives accessible for all pupils.

At Ashbourne Primary, we are ideally located to utilise the natural environment - both in our school grounds and in the immediate area. A short walk to the local brook enables all children the opportunity to explore a water based habitat and conduct river flow studies. We provide an excellent foundation for further learning in KS3.