Science

We are scientists who can change the world

 Our vision

At Salusbury, we’re growing a generation of children who can change the world through science. Would you like to join in?

We live in a world where science is the key to solving some of the biggest issues our planet has ever faced. Climate change. Global pandemics. Feeding 10 billion people. Access to clean drinking water. Marine and wildlife conservation. The list goes on.

We want our children, who live in a city of scientific innovation, to be prepared to be part of the solution. So, at Salusbury, we help them develop the skills and knowledge to go on and change the world through science.

We develop children’s global perspective, their understanding of the big challenges that face our world and our community.

We develop children’s local engagement, their willingness to take part in local projects, to see they can change the world through science.

We develop children’s scientific skills, a sense of inquisitiveness about the world they live in, realising they can ask and answer their own questions.

We connect and deepen children’s scientific knowledge, so they have a full understanding of the big ideas in science.

We develop children’s understanding of science as a discipline, about how scientific knowledge is generated and how it changes over time.

 Our curriculum

At Salusbury, children know that science is more than just ‘doing fun experiments’. Our curriculum is designed so that children’s knowledge and skills progress from Early Years to Y6.

Science as a discipline. Our children understand that science helps explain the world around them. They understand that scientific knowledge is generated and grows by collecting evidence from enquiries to prove how the world works. They understand science is not complete: scientific ideas have changed over time – and will continue to change – as new evidence is gathered. They understand that uses of science can be positive and negative for society.

Global issues, local projects. Each strand of our science curriculum is linked to a global issue. In each topic, children learn about how science is the key to solving these global issues, building their science capital. We encourage our children to get involved in local projects such as Eco Schools. Children throughout the school have specialist forest and horticultural lessons in our Greenspace.

Scientists changing the world. During each topic, children learn about a scientific giant and a modern-day scientist who change the world. These scientists are as diverse as possible. Children read non-fiction and biographical texts about these scientists.

Disciplinary skills. Scientific enquiries are carefully chosen to be relevant to the science topic and deepen children’s understanding of it. Children can explain what type of enquiry they are doing. Children also make progress in their ability to carry out seven key scientific skills.

Substantive knowledge. Our curriculum is clear about the key scientific ideas children need to know, the sequence in which to teach them, and how to break them down into small steps.

Take a look at our Salusbury Science curriculum overview here:

salusburyscience curriculumoverview.pdf

 Take a look at how children's scientific skills progress here:

salusburyscience disciplinaryskillsprogression.pdf

 PSQM Outreach Accreditation

We are proud to have been awarded the PSQM Outreach mark. It is a testimony not only to how science is run in our school, but also the improvements we have helped make in other schools who are part of the Enthuse project we run.

What other people say about Salusbury Science

PSQM Outreach Quality Mark, September 2023

• The enthusiasm and passion for science across the school really shines through
• Principles and vision for science are having an impact on teaching and learning across the school
• The Science Lead is engaged with sustained professional learning and the wider primary science education community
• Curriculum planning ensures that children use the full range of enquiry types and skills
• Children are supported to ask and answer their own questions independently
• The school has delivered some great initiatives to develop children’s science capital, such as the Farmvention and MyLifeMyScience projects
• The ENTHUSE project (led by Salusbury) with 6 schools in NW London is meticulously planned and rigorously evaluated; it has clearly had an impact on the provision in EYFS and KS1 in each school

Brent Consultant, July 2023

• Well on the way to securing a highly effective science curriculum
• Infectious enthusiasm and strong subject knowledge
• Compelling and ambitious curriculum intent
• Pupils grasp key environmental issues and the role scientists have
• Pupils learn about a diverse range of scientists – and are often able to recall their achievements
• A well-sequenced curriculum and comprehensive set of planning documents
• Work in books shows the curriculum is implemented as intended across the school
• Science teaching captures pupils’ interest
• Frequent opportunities to carry out practical investigations
• Assessment of working scientifically is captured in books and moderated annually
• A strong extra-curricular science offer (CREST, Science Ambassadors, Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize)

 Challenge Partners, February 2023

• Recent work by STEM leaders (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has been particularly effective in driving ambition in these subjects
• Pupils are keen to take up roles such as science ambassadors
• Leaders take every opportunity to get involved in external networks and engage in research; this knowledge drives their actions and has resulted in a wide range of quality marks being achieved

Challenge Partners, June 2021

• Subject leaders are very well connected to a wide range of external organisations, such as professional subject associations and STEM networks.
• The planning of all topics and themes ensures that real-life/world contexts at both the local and global level are incorporated. For example, the driver behind the science curriculum is to ensure that ‘a generation of children who can go on to change the world through science.’ Lessons are planned around a series of enquiry questions and pupils are routinely expected to apply their knowledge to real-world contexts, for example, to design a sustainable non-plastic water bottle.

 

Salusbury Science YouTube Channel

From engineering marble runs, to cataloguing our local trees. From designing contraptions for egg landings, to creating habitats for wild animals. Our children start their love of science in the Early Years with Forest School and they continue to have a hands-on, practical and innovative experience of science all the way through to Year 6. Take a look at what our children have been up to, even in lockdown.

 Salusbury Youtube Channel

 

I'm A Mini Scientist YouTube Channel

We recently held an event called "I'm a Mini Scientist" to empower parents of young children to engage in simple science activities at home. We also created a YouTube channel to provide parents with a go-to resource for science activities. Take a look at the I'm a Mini Scientist channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ImAMiniScientist 

Here is a flavour of just some of the awesome videos we created:

Can you help?

We are always looking for experts to bring their knowledge to our children. Have you got scientific experience to share?

We would like our children to meet and listen to people who have scientific backgrounds, careers and specialist knowledge. Not only is it an opportunity for children to learn more, but it can also inspire them to think of science as a potential career. Please get in touch if you can share your love or expertise in any science field.