Science

Science at St Mary Queen of Martyrs

At St Mary Queen of Martyrs, we believe that science is not just a subject on a timetable; it is a gateway to understanding the universe. Our primary science curriculum is designed to ignite children’s natural curiosity, equipping them with both a rich bank of knowledge and the practical skills needed to explore the world around them.

Science impacts every aspect of our daily lives. By helping our pupils understand the "how" and "why" of the world, we empower them to become critical thinkers, active problem solvers, and lifelong learners.

Working Scientifically: The Core of Our Curriculum

To think like a scientist, you have to act like a scientist. From Foundation Stage up to Year 6, our children don't just memorize facts—they work scientifically. We explicitly teach the skills of prediction, observation, measurement, fair testing, and data analysis.

Our young scientists learn to navigate the five strands of scientific enquiry:

Observing over time: Watching how things change, from a seed growing into a sunflower to ice melting.
Pattern seeking: Finding connections, such as whether children with longer legs can jump further.
Identifying, classifying, and grouping: Sorting living things, rocks, or materials based on their unique properties.
Controlled fair testing: Changing one variable while keeping everything else the same to ensure a reliable test.
Researching using secondary sources: Diving into books and digital media to find answers to big questions that we cannot test in class.

Our Learning Journey Across the Key Stages

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge builds year-on-year, allowing children to make deep connections between topics.

Key Stage 1: Exploring and Observing (Years 1 & 2)

In the infants, science is hands-on and immersive. Children begin by exploring their immediate environment. They study Seasonal Changes by tracking the weather, identify and classify common Animals including Humans, and explore the wonder of Plants growing in our school grounds. They also get to grips with everyday Materials, learning to distinguish between an object and the material it is made from, testing whether things are stretchy, rigid, or waterproof.

Lower Key Stage 2: Deepening Connections (Years 3 & 4)

As children move into the juniors, their investigations become more structured. In physics, they explore the invisible forces of Magnets and the mechanics of Light and Sound. In chemistry, they classify Rocks and fossils and track the states of matter through the water cycle. In biology, they look closer at the human body, studying Nutrition, Skeletons, and Muscles, alongside digging into the digestive system and food chains.

Upper Key Stage 2: Advanced Enquiry (Years 5 & 6)

In their final years with us, pupils apply their knowledge to more complex systems. They venture out into the cosmos to study Earth and Space, explain the mechanics of Forces like gravity and air resistance, and learn how Electricity powers our world through complex circuits. They also deepen their biological understanding by looking at Evolution and Inheritance, classifying complex living things, and analyzing how the human circulatory system keeps us alive.

Our Ultimate Goal

We aim for every child to leave St Mary Queen of Martyrs with an impressive, durable bank of scientific knowledge. More importantly, we want them to leave with a flame of curiosity that cannot be put out. By fostering an enthusiasm for discovery and giving them the tools to independently question and investigate, we prepare our pupils to confidently navigate, protect, and shape the scientific world of tomorrow.

St Mary Queen of Martyrs VC Academy