Our Vision for Science at Lockyer's Middle School

Science education at Lockyer's Middle School provides the foundations for understanding the world. Science changes our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Through science education, children learn to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. 

At Lockyer’s, children are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.Employing skills developed in Maths and English, children are taught to critically analyse and carefully explain their findings. Children are taught about Working Scientifically through a range of practical investigations that are always clearly related to the science content in the programme of study, developing key practical skills such as use of microscopes, safe handling of chemicals and basic equipment required to carry out simple chemical reactions and measurements of time, distance and forces in different contexts. These skills are built on and supported by practical concepts in Design and Technology.

How Science Links to other Subjects at our School

Strong English and maths links are utilised in order for children to make sense of data and explain their findings so they can communicate their understanding to others. During their study of the carbon cycle and energy transfer, children investigate the causes and impact of global warming and explore our role in reducing or even reversing these effects. Through this and the study of the rock cycle, there are strong links with the geography curriculum. Children are inspired to be critical thinkers when it comes to investigations in science and in Design and Technology where they identify hazards and consider risks in order to take control of their own health and safety. We also work hard with the PSHCE department to ensure that children understand the changes that they go through as they enter adolescence and understand the impact that different substances can have on their bodies so that they are better prepared to tackle ever-changing social demands.

How you can help with Science at home

At Key Stage 3, the science curriculum is well supported by their Tassomai homework. Through Tassomai, the children are constantly reinforcing prior knowledge as well as extending current learning.  Sometimes this can become tricky and we all need a little help from time to time.

The following websites can be useful to provide some extra knowledge:

BBC Bitesize for Year 5 and 6 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9q

BBC Bitesize for Year 7 and 8 

Biology - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z4882hv

Chemistry - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/znxtyrd

Physics - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zh2xsbk

A good science reference book is the CGP KS3 Science Study Guide - It usually costs around £5 from most larger bookstores. It is accessible and has the key learning presented clearly.

Or direct from https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/ks3/science/sfr32-ks3-science-study-guide-foundation

Key Stage 2 study guide - https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/primary-books/ks2/science/shr23-ks2-science-study-book

Curious to look a little further ahead?

Both QE and Corfe Hills study the AQA syllabus and support can be found here as pupils start to investigate GCSE level science - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zw488mn