Welcome to Science at Lainesmead Primary School

Did you know there are as many stars in the universe as grains of sand on all the Earth’s beaches? That humans share around 55% of their DNA with a banana? Or that the blood vessels in a child, laid end to end, would stretch over 60,000 miles?

Science is full of fascinating facts like these—facts that spark curiosity and wonder. At Lainesmead, we believe science is a gateway to understanding the world around us. It inspires children to ask questions, explore ideas, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Our Science Curriculum

Our science curriculum nurtures children’s natural curiosity and encourages them to think like scientists by asking questions, making predictions, investigating and drawing conclusions based on evidence. We follow the National Curriculum for Science in England, ensuring that pupils develop a deep and secure understanding of key scientific concepts and processes across Key Stages 1 and 2.

Through regular opportunities to investigate, question and explore, pupils develop strong enquiry skills and learn to apply their knowledge independently across a range of contexts. Ongoing assessment through discussion, practical work, written outcomes and observation demonstrates that children make good progress over time and retain important scientific understanding. By the end of each key stage, pupils are able to use scientific vocabulary accurately, explain their thinking clearly and make meaningful connections across different areas of science.

Children leave Lainesmead curious, confident and equipped with the scientific knowledge and skills they need for the next stage of their education and to better understand the world around them.

Our Curriculum Has Three Main Strands:

1. Scientific Knowledge and Conceptual Understanding

Children explore a wide range of scientific topics to deepen their understanding of the world, including:

Plants

Animals, including humans

Everyday materials and their properties

Living things and their habitats

Rocks

Light

Forces and magnets

States of matter

Sound

Electricity

Earth and space

Evolution and inheritance

These topics are taught in an age-appropriate way and revisited over time to strengthen knowledge and connect learning across different areas.

2. Working Scientifically

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded throughout the curriculum. Children learn to:

Ask questions and make predictions

Plan and carry out fair tests

Observe and measure carefully

Record results in different formats (e.g. charts, diagrams, graphs)

Analyse findings and draw conclusions

Reflect on and evaluate their methods

As they progress, pupils grow in confidence using scientific vocabulary, choosing appropriate equipment, and explaining their learning clearly.

3. The Nature, Processes and Methods of Science

Pupils learn how science works in the real world. They explore important discoveries and meet significant scientists—understanding that science is an evolving subject with real impact on the world we live in.

Enrichment and Cross-Curricular Links

Science at Lainesmead is active, exciting, and often connected to other areas of learning such as maths, English, computing, and PSHE. This helps children see how science supports a wide range of skills and subjects.

We enrich our curriculum through:

Science Week – A whole-school celebration of discovery, creativity, and hands-on learning.

Collaborations with Lawn Manor Academy – Providing pupils with practical experience in secondary-level science labs.

Educational Visits – Trips to science centres like We The Curious in Bristol and Techniquest in Cardiff offer immersive, real-world learning opportunities.

Assessment and Progression

Children’s progress is continually assessed through discussion, practical activities, written work, and observation. This helps ensure secure learning and enables each child to move forward with growing independence and confidence in their scientific thinking.

Inspiring the Scientists of the Future

Science at Lainesmead goes beyond the classroom. Whether growing plants in the school garden, experimenting with materials, or investigating forces in the playground, our children are developing a rich toolkit of skills.

We aim to foster confidence, creativity, and curiosity in every child—helping them see that science is not just a subject, but a way of thinking that empowers them to understand and shape their world.

Let’s nurture the next generation of thinkers, explorers, and innovators—starting here at Lainesmead.

Science Knowledge Organisers

Please see our year group pages for our Science knowledge organisers