At Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy, the science curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, encourage questioning and develop children into confident, independent scientists. Our aim is for all pupils to build secure scientific knowledge while developing the skills required to think, work and communicate like scientists.
Science is taught through carefully sequenced units that build progressively on prior learning. This ensures that key knowledge and skills are revisited, reinforced and extended year on year, in line with the National Curriculum. Lessons are engaging, practical and enquiry‑led, allowing children to explore scientific concepts through investigation, observation, discussion and problem‑solving.
High‑quality resources, real‑life contexts, visits, visitors, film clips and practical demonstrations are used as meaningful hooks for learning. Wherever possible, science is linked to other areas of the curriculum, particularly English and mathematics, to strengthen understanding and application.
A strong emphasis is placed on working scientifically. Throughout the school, children are taught to:
Practical learning is central to science lessons. Children regularly work collaboratively, make predictions, evaluate results and reflect on outcomes. Independence develops as pupils move through the school, with increasing opportunities to plan investigations and justify conclusions.
Science Assessment – The TAPS Wheel
At Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy, science assessment is informed by the TAPS Wheel (Teacher Assessment in Primary Science), developed by the Primary Science Teaching Trust. This approach allows teachers to assess children’s scientific knowledge and enquiry skills through practical, meaningful classroom activities rather than formal tests.
Assessment focuses on how confidently pupils can work scientifically, apply their knowledge and communicate their ideas over time.
The TAPS Enquiry Types
Children across Years 3–6 regularly experience all five types of scientific enquiry:
These enquiry types are revisited and developed throughout the school to ensure progression and confidence.
Assessing Scientific Skills
Teachers use TAPS descriptors to assess how well pupils can:
Evidence is gathered through practical work, discussions, written outcomes and pupil explanations, ensuring assessment is inclusive and accurate.
Through the consistent use of the TAPS Wheel, pupils develop increasing independence and a clear understanding of what it means to think and work like scientists.
Scientific vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited regularly so that children can explain ideas clearly and accurately. Teachers model correct terminology and expectations, while working walls, knowledge organisers and retrieval activities support long‑term retention and confidence.
Science Curriculum Overview by Year Group
Science in Year 3 (Age 7–8)
In Year 3, children develop their scientific understanding through the following units:
Plants – life cycles and what plants need to grow
Animals including humans – nutrition, skeletons and muscles
Rocks – types of rocks, fossils and soils
Light – reflection and the formation of shadows
Forces and magnets – magnetic materials, attraction and repulsion
Science in Year 4 (Age 8–9)
In Year 4, children build upon earlier learning through:
Animals including humans – the digestive system, teeth and food chains
Living things and habitats – classification keys and grouping organisms
States of matter – solids, liquids and gases, including changes of state, evaporation and condensation
Sound – vibrations, pitch and volume
Electricity – simple circuits, conductors and insulators
Science in Year 5 (Age 9–10)
In Year 5, children deepen their scientific understanding through:
Animals including humans – human development from birth to old age
Living things and their habitats – life cycles and reproduction in plants and animals
Properties and changes of materials – dissolving, separating materials and reversible and irreversible changes
Forces – gravity, air resistance, water resistance and friction
Earth and Space – the Earth, Sun and Moon, and the solar system
Science in Year 6 (Age 10–11)
In Year 6, children consolidate and extend their learning through:
Animals including humans – the circulatory system, diet, exercise and healthy living
Living things and their habitats – classification and characteristics of major plant and animal groups
Light – how light travels, how we see and how shadows are formed
Electricity – voltage, power, components, circuit symbols and diagrams
Evolution and inheritance – fossils, adaptation, inheritance and how living things have changed over time
Assessment in science is ongoing and purposeful. Teachers assess children’s understanding through questioning, discussion, practical investigations and written outcomes. Misconceptions are identified quickly and addressed through targeted teaching. Children are encouraged to reflect on their learning and articulate their scientific thinking clearly.
By the time pupils leave Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy, they will have developed a secure foundation of scientific knowledge, strong enquiry skills and a genuine enthusiasm for science, preparing them well for the next stage of their education.
Useful Science Websites for Parents
The following websites provide high‑quality videos, activities, games and practical ideas to support children’s science learning at home. They are suitable for Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) and are regularly recommended by UK primary schools, teachers and science organisations.
BBC Bitesize – Primary Science
BBC Bitesize offers clear explanations, short videos, quizzes and games linked directly to the National Curriculum. It is ideal for revising classroom learning or introducing topics in a child‑friendly way.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9q
Oak National Academy – Primary Science
Oak National Academy provides free, high‑quality video lessons, slides and quizzes created by teachers. Lessons cover all primary science topics and are particularly useful for reinforcing learning at home.
https://www.thenational.academy/subjects/science-primary
STEM Learning – Home Learning Support
STEM Learning offers free science activities, investigations and videos designed specifically for families. The resources encourage practical, hands‑on learning using everyday items at home.
https://www.stem.org.uk/primary/resources/collections/home-learning-support
National Geographic Kids (UK)
National Geographic Kids provides engaging articles, experiments, videos and facts about animals, Earth, space and the environment. It helps children develop curiosity and wider scientific understanding.
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT)
The Primary Science Teaching Trust supports excellent primary science teaching and learning. Their website includes enquiry ideas, explanations, videos and guidance for families supporting science at home.
https://pstt.org.uk/resources
Explorify – STEM Learning
Explorify encourages children to think like scientists through discussion, observation and questioning. It is widely used in UK schools to develop scientific enquiry skills in a fun and accessible way.
https://www.stem.org.uk/explorify
Science Museum – Learning at Home
The Science Museum offers free online experiments, videos and interactive activities which allow children to explore science concepts in an engaging way.
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/learning
Supporting Science at Home
Parents can support their child’s science learning by:
Knowledge organisers play a vital role in supporting pupils’ learning in Science. They set out the key facts, vocabulary and concepts that children need to know for each unit, helping them to build knowledge in a clear and structured way. In school, teachers regularly refer to the knowledge organiser to introduce new ideas, revisit prior learning and reinforce scientific vocabulary. At home, they provide a valuable tool for revision and discussion, allowing parents to support their child by reviewing key information little and often. This consistent approach between school and home helps children to remember more, make connections within their learning and develop confidence as young scientists.
Year-3-knowledge-organisers
Year-4-knowledge-organisers
Year-5-knowledge-organisers
Year-6-knowledge-organisers
Visits and visitors play an important role in bringing science learning to life at our school. We provide a wide range of science‑linked trips and expert visitors across all year groups so that children can experience science beyond the classroom. These opportunities allow pupils to see real‑world applications of their learning, develop curiosity and deepen their understanding through practical, hands‑on experiences. From museums and workshops to visiting specialists who inspire scientific thinking, these experiences enrich the curriculum and help children remember more. We are proud that a variety of science visits and visitors are carefully planned throughout the year to enhance learning, raise aspirations and support progression for all pupils.
The children of Uplands enjoy British Science Week, every year, by taking part in a range of fun and educational activities. The children explore a range of topics which vary each year.
Practical science is also an important part of this week too. All children are engaged in some practical science and some children present how they demonstrate ‘working scientifically’ to the rest of the school in a special assembly.
We like to celebrate and share the work produced by our children across the curriculum. We take great pride in the high standard of presentation shown in pupils’ books, which reflects the care, effort and ambition they bring to their learning. Alongside this written work, many learning experiences—particularly in subjects such as science—are highly practical and hands‑on. As a result, not all learning can be recorded in books, as children are often exploring, investigating and working collaboratively through practical tasks that deepen understanding and skills.
As a school, we place great value on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning as it equips children with essential skills for the future. STEM helps pupils develop problem‑solving skills, creativity, teamwork and resilience, while also showing them how their learning links to real‑life situations and future careers. We provide a rich range of STEM experiences both in school and beyond, including practical activities, workshops and hands‑on investigations. Children also benefit from visits and visitors that bring learning to life, such as engagements with organisations including the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, helping pupils to see how STEM skills are used in the wider world. These varied experiences inspire curiosity, raise aspirations and deepen children’s understanding of how STEM shapes the world around them.
