Why do plants grow differently? What makes a parachute fall slowly? How could we find out?

At Bloxham, science begins with children’s curiosity about the world around them. We give them the knowledge to make sense of what they notice and the confidence to ask questions, investigate and explain what they find.

We believe in a hands-on approach to science through investigations and experiments, which provide opportunities for children to be curious, explore ideas and test out their theories.

Look closely. Think carefully

In Foundation Stage, children explore the world through play, observation and conversation. As they move through school, they build on those first discoveries, learning about plants and animals, materials, forces, light, sound and more.

They also learn what it means to think and work like a scientist. Children make predictions, observe carefully, compare what they find and use evidence to explain an idea. A result that surprises them is a reason to ask another question.

From a question to an explanation

Our children get hands-on with science. In Year 2, examining and labelling daffodils helps children recognise the parts of a plant and think about what it needs to survive. In Year 5, making and testing parachutes gives children a way to explore forces. They can change a feature, observe what happens and use their results to explain why one design worked differently from another.

The investigation is exciting, but the thinking is what matters most. Teachers help children learn the right scientific words, connect a new discovery to what they already know and explain their conclusions. Over time, children become more confident in choosing equipment, recording results and deciding what the evidence tells them.

Science beyond the classroom

Outdoor learning gives children opportunities to notice living things and changes in their surroundings. Science Day is another chance to celebrate curiosity and the people who use science to understand and improve our world.

Science belongs to every child who has ever asked “Why?” At Bloxham, we help them take the next step: “How could I find out?”

Year 5 making and testing parachutes as part of our Forces and Mechanisms learning

Current families can find curriculum overviews and knowledge organisers on our Parent Portal.