Welcome to Science at South Camberley Primary and Nursery School. We are committed to providing an exceptional education across our three vibrant campuses.

Whether your child is taking their first steps at our Infant sites (France Hill Drive and James Road) or growing in independence at our Junior site (Frimley Road), we operate as one school family. This unique structure allows us to pool our collaborative staff expertise to deliver a cohesive curriculum journey, ensuring seamless transitions for your child at every stage of their primary education. We pride ourselves on creating a safe and nurturing environment where every pupil feels a deep sense of belonging, allowing their natural curiosity about the world to flourish.

Our Intent: Igniting Curiosity and Aspiration

Our Science curriculum is designed to ignite a lifelong love of discovery. We deliver an ambitious and coherently sequenced curriculum that equips all children with a rich understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics.

• Building Secure Foundations: Starting in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we focus on nurturing inquisitive minds and building the vital building blocks children need to explore natural phenomena.
• Highly Inclusive Practice: We champion inclusive learning by actively removing barriers to learning so that every single child can access the awe and wonder of science.
• Growing 'Science Capital': We want our children to know that science is for everyone. By enhancing their 'science capital', we help them see how scientific knowledge relates to their own lives and future career possibilities.
• Holistic Development: Beyond academic success, our science lessons are designed to develop the whole child—encouraging them to ask big questions, challenge ideas, and explore their environment safely.

Implementation: How We Teach Science

Science at South Camberley is hands-on, purposeful, and driven by evidence-informed teaching. Our teachers ensure that children build their scientific knowledge bit by bit, from Early Years right through to Year 6.

• Retrieval Practice: To help children "know more and remember more," we embed retrieval practice into our lessons. This means we gently and regularly recap prior knowledge so that new learning sticks firmly in their minds.
• Adaptive Teaching: We recognise that every learner is unique. Through adaptive teaching, we continuously adjust our instruction. Whether by pre-teaching vocabulary, providing visual word mats, or offering targeted adult support. This ensures every individual child is supported to achieve their absolute full potential without ever lowering our high expectations.
• Exciting 'Hook' Lessons: Every science unit begins with a thrilling hook to give learning a real-life purpose. Recently, Year 3 children received an email from a local park warden asking them to investigate owl pellets to ensure the owls were eating safely! Meanwhile, Year 4 pupils were tasked by a local dentist to research why tooth decay is on the rise.
• Working Scientifically: A dedicated afternoon every week allows all year groups to fully immerse themselves in scientific enquiry. These engaging, practical lessons are key to establishing positive routines for active learning, which naturally supports excellent attendance, focus, and behaviour.

Personal Development & Enrichment

We believe that delivering a strong standard of education extends far beyond the classroom walls. We actively build our pupils' cultural capital through enriching extra-curricular activities, expert workshops, and exciting trips.

• Learning Beyond the Classroom: Our children enjoy unforgettable experiences, such as exploring the wonders of the planetarium in year 5 through their visit to Winchester Science Centre or taking part of a heart dissection in year 6. 

• Character Building: During collaborative science experiments, children are doing much more than testing theories. Group work promotes character building and emotional literacy, as children learn to listen, negotiate, share ideas, and navigate challenges together respectfully.

• STEM Week: During our annual STEM Week, each year group explores an exciting enquiry question, encouraging children to think critically, investigate creatively, and work collaboratively. Pupils plan, research, and carry out their own explorations before using technology to present and share their findings with parents. The week is enriched by a range of hands-on workshops and experiences, including animal encounters where children have had the opportunity to get up close to creatures such as chinchillas, snakes, tarantulas, and many other fascinating animals, inspiring curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

 

Impact: Preparing Scientists for the Future

By the time our Year 6 pupils leave us, they have experienced a broad, exciting, and rigorous science education. They are confident, motivated learners who understand how science shapes our world and influences our future.

Thanks to our strong community connections with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) ambassadors and the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT), our children leave South Camberley not just ready for their transition to secondary school, but with the firm, empowering belief that they, too, are scientists.

 

"I like all the experiments we get to do” Year 5 Pupil 

"I learn lots of things in Science about the world" Year 4 Pupil

"I like Science because we do lots of messy investigations!" Year 4 Pupil