Science

At Fishponds CE Primary School, we deliver theLighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) Science Curriculum, a carefully designed and progressive programme that supports pupils in developing a deep understanding of the world around them. By adopting the Trust curriculum, the school ensures that all pupils benefit from a consistent, high‑quality approach to science teaching rooted in evidence‑based practice and shared expertise.

Our Approach 

Through the LSP curriculum, pupils build secure knowledge across biology, chemistry and physics, developing both scientific understanding and the skills needed to think, question and investigate like scientists. Lessons aim to spark curiosity, encourage exploration and help pupils make meaningful connections in their learning.

The curriculum is structured to develop knowledge year on year. This allows pupils to revisit important ideas, deepen their understanding, and apply learning with increasing independence and confidence.

High‑Quality Teaching and Learning

The curriculum follows a clear progression from Early Years to Year 6, ensuring that each new concept builds on what pupils have already learned. This helps pupils develop strong foundations in key areas such as forces, materials, living things, light, sound, electricity, Earth and space, and evolution.

A focus on scientific enquiry

‘Working scientifically’ skills are fully embedded within every unit, not taught separately. Pupils learn to:

• Ask questions
• Make predictions
• Observe and measure carefully
• Plan and carry out investigations
• Record, interpret and present results
• Draw conclusions using evidence

These skills strengthen as pupils move through the school.

Learning driven by enquiry questions

Each unit begins with a key question, such as:

• How do plants grow best?
• Why do shadows change size?
• What makes a material suitable for a job?
• How are living things classified?

By the end of the unit, pupils can confidently answer this question using the knowledge and skills they have gained.

Science Across the School

Early Years

Children explore the natural world through hands‑on investigation, observing seasonal changes, exploring forces like push and pull, and discovering plants and animals in familiar environments.

Key Stage 1

Pupils begin to classify, describe and observe in more detail. They learn about everyday materials, common plants and animals, the human body and the seasons.

Key Stage 2

Learning becomes more complex and conceptual. Pupils explore life cycles, the digestive system, changes of state, electricity, sound, light, the solar system, forces, evolution and more. They carry out increasingly sophisticated investigations and develop strong scientific vocabulary.

How Science Is Taught

By adopting the Trust curriculum, [School Name] teaches science using the LSP pedagogical approach, based on Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction. This ensures:

• Clear, direct teaching of new concepts
• High levels of pupil practice and participation
• Skilled use of modelling: I do, we do, you do
• Regular retrieval to strengthen long‑term memory
• Thoughtful use of scaffolding where needed
• Inclusive teaching that ensures all pupils keep up
• Learning that is responsive to assessment

Every lesson begins with a short ‘Do Now’ retrieval task, helping pupils recall prior learning and make strong knowledge connections.