Intent 

At Hatfield Wick School, the science curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and evidence-informed, enabling all pupils - including those with SEND and SEMH needs - to develop secure scientific knowledge alongside the skills and dispositions required to think and work scientifically, regardless of starting point. The curriculum is designed to foster curiosity, confidence and resilience, ensuring pupils understand the world around them, can ask meaningful scientific questions, and apply their learning to real-life contexts, future learning and employment. 

The curriculum is broad, balanced and fully aligned to the statutory National Curriculum, with careful sequencing across biology, chemistry and physics to ensure clear progression over time. Key scientific concepts are revisited through a spiral approach, enabling pupils to consolidate prior learning, address misconceptions and deepen understanding. Planned repetition, retrieval practice and overlearning opportunities support long-term memory and ensure that all pupils, particularly those who require additional structure, are able to succeed. 

These choices reflect the school’s belief that scientific understanding supports pupils’ confidence, independence and ability to engage with the world around them.  

The Science curriculum is ambitious in its intent while being carefully adapted to meet the needs of pupils with SEND and SEMH. Our ambition is expressed through: 

• Maintaining breadth across biology, chemistry, physics and working scientifically at all stages. 

• Ensuring pupils encounter increasingly complex concepts over time.  

• Providing credible pathways at Key Stage 4 that lead to recognised outcomes and post-16 progression. 

Developing pupils’ ability to work scientifically is central to the curriculum intent and underpins all teaching and learning in science. Across all key stages, pupils are explicitly taught how to ask scientific questions, make predictions, plan and carry outinvestigations, identify variables, observe and measure accurately, record and analyse data, and use evidence to draw conclusions and evaluate ideas. These enquiry skills are systematically developed alongside substantive knowledge so that pupils not only know scientific facts, but understand how scientific knowledge is generated, tested and refined. This approach supports pupils to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills essential for aspiring scientists and scientifically literate citizens. 

Implementation 

KS2 & KS3

Science at Key Stages 2-3 covers the national curriculum aims and content and all science programmes of study. Our curriculum is supported using the Best Evidence Science Teaching programme designed by the University of York Science Group and supported by the Institute of Physics. Progression in Science is secured through a clearly defined sequence: 

Key Stage 2 builds foundational scientific knowledge and vocabulary across biology, chemistry, and physics, while introducing working scientifically through observation, exploration and explanation. 

Key Stage 3 consolidates and deepens this knowledge, introducing greater conceptual depth, abstraction, and scientific reasoning. Pupils increasingly plan investigations, interpret data, and evaluate evidence. 

Across KS2 & KS3, sequencing is designed to prepare pupils for differentiated KS4 pathways, ensuring readiness without premature specialisation. Teaching approaches are adapted to meet the needs of individuals while maintaining conceptual integrity. 

KS4

At Key Stage 4, progression is expressed through appropriate pathway selection rather than a single uniform route, ensuring continuity of scientific learning aligned to pupils’ readiness and aspirations. 

Hatfield Wick offers two fixed and clearly defined pathways for KS4: 

Pathway A: AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy, delivered as a two-year linear course for pupils ready for exam-based outcomes. 

Pathway B: An Applied Science pathway, delivered through Open Awards, with pupils completing Entry Level Science in Year 10 (Entry Level 1-3 as appropriate) and progressing to Open Awards Level 1 or 2 Science in Year 11. 

AQA awards will also be offered throughout the learning programme to ensure all pupils, no matter their ability, can achieve success. 

We teach science at least once a week across all Key Stages. Our class teachers deliver science to their classes with expert support from subject specialists.