At St Mary’s, we aim to teach inspiring science lessons that engage the children, promote their curiosity of the world around them and fulfil their potential as scientists. We want to develop children’s scientific and conceptual understanding by giving them a range of opportunities to be physicians, chemists and biologists.

We follow the Haringey Education Partnership (HEP) Primary Science curriculum, a high-quality curriculum that fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum for science and the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework.

Early Years Foundation Stage (Year R): 

In Reception, children are introduced to the world around them, exploring their immediate environment. They start to identify basic elements of everyday life, such as body parts, materials and the weather. They begin to look at changes in their immediate and wider environment in a purposeful way. This includes changes in weather and seasons, effects of simple forces on objects and materials and changes in humans and other animals. Finally, they can describe differences between living and non-living things in their local and wider environment. 

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2): 

At this stage, children begin to deepen their understanding of the world around them. They are taught to identify and name a variety of animals and plants. They compare common animals, plants and structures and distinguish between objects and the materials from which they are made. Pupils begin to understand the ways that habitats help living things to survive.

Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6): 

Children begin to develop explanations about the human body systems and how variations in lifestyle can affect it. They also gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between animals, plants and the environment. Pupils begin to justify selection of materials for a variety of uses and use their knowledge to classify forces and a range of living and non-living things. Pupils begin to look at different sources and forms of energy and how they are used in everyday life.