Science

Curious minds, careful observers — scientists in the making

Science

At St Peter Chanel, we follow Snap Science from Collins Connect. The scheme of work incorporates both scientific knowledge and scientific enquiry. It covers all three elements of science: biology, chemistry and physics, and also provides children with the opportunity to explore influential scientists and study the impact they have had on their area of science.

Science at St Peter Chanel inspires children to ask questions, observe carefully, and make sense of the world around them. We follow the National Curriculum for Science, building knowledge progressively from Reception through to Year 6 across three core strands: biology, chemistry and physics, as well as the scientific working knowledge that ties them together.

We believe that every child is a scientist. Lessons are practical wherever possible, with hands-on investigations, fieldwork in our extensive school grounds, and visits from STEM ambassadors that bring science to life. Children learn to plan fair tests, observe and record results, use scientific vocabulary with confidence, and draw evidence-based conclusions.

What children learn, year by year

  • EYFS — Through Understanding the World, our youngest children explore living things, materials, the changing seasons, and the natural environment around our Reception garden.

  • Year 1 & 2 — Animals (including humans), plants, everyday materials, seasonal change. Children begin asking simple scientific questions and recording what they find.

  • Year 3 & 4 — Forces and magnets, light, sound, states of matter, rocks and the human digestive system. Investigations become more structured and pupils record findings using diagrams, tables and simple graphs.

  • Year 5 & 6 — Earth and space, electricity, evolution and inheritance, properties and changes of materials, living things and their habitats. Children plan and carry out their own enquiries, evaluate evidence, and write up findings in scientific language.

Beyond the classroom

Throughout the year we mark British Science Week with whole-school activities, visiting scientists, and pupil-led investigations across every year group. Our Year 6 cohort enjoys hands-on STEM workshops as part of our wider transition programme to secondary school.