Primary Science Scheme of Work

Our original Primary Science Scheme of Work resource has been successfully used for years by schools around the country and has had a significant impact on science education in primary schools. The scheme was originally written by Andrew Berry and has made a profound impact on primary science education nationwide.

The new iteration has been updated by our primary school improvement experts to align with the latest curriculum and current Education Inspection Framework, providing an effective tool for educators to deliver high-quality science education, and bring science to life for learners.

Level up your teaching: Save time planning, nail the science curriculum!

The Primary Science Scheme of Work aligns with the National Curriculum, offering pupils the opportunity to learn about the products of science so that they can explain the material world and ‘develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena’.

Pupils will also learn about the practices of science so that they know how scientific knowledge becomes established through scientific enquiry. Through this programme of study, pupils will combine these two distinct types of knowledge, so they develop a solid understanding within meaningful context.

Knowledge and skills have been carefully placed across the units and years with sequential component knowledge clearly broken down into steps and composite tasks. Although they are taught together, there is clarity about which knowledge is disciplinary and which is substantive.

There is a brand-new section: 'Ten Big Ideas', which is underpinned by key concepts. As pupils move through the scheme, they will build comprehensive schemata for each of these big ideas, so that new information connects with prior knowledge and can be committed to long-term memory.

Each unit of the Primary Science Scheme of Work (from Year 1 through to Year 6) is helpfully divided into year groups and terms, and covers the relevant topics (depending on the required curriculum) for the full academic year. Within each unit, there is detailed and insightful information to assist teachers and science leads.

Published alongside the Primary Science Scheme of Work is a detailed subject leader handbook which will support you to implement the scheme effectively, as well as with your Ofsted conversations (sample pages available to view on the blue button in Unit Sample section). This handbook is now included for free with your purchase of the Primary Science Scheme of Work.

The handbook covers:

• a detailed rationale
• building component and disciplinary knowledge maps
• the Ten Big Ideas
• suggested sequences for mixed age classes
• assessment approaches.

Take a look at our sample pages for the Primary Science Scheme of Work:

This new Primary Science Scheme of Work has been created by a team of knowledgeable primary advisers. All have been highly successful school leaders who understand the pressures and expectations on school leaders.

In addition to having practicing inspectors on the team, the wider team directly support around 80 inspections a year - and have a full and secure understanding of the implementation of the Inspection Framework and its expectations around curriculum.

There have been significant changes to curriculum expectations since 2014. The new scheme aligns to current Ofsted expectations and how the Inspection Framework judges your curriculum. This new Primary Science Scheme of Work has been updated and aligned with latest research around factors that contribute to high-quality school science curriculums, including the Ofsted Research review series: science and The science subject report 2023.

The new Primary Science Scheme of Work provides a clear framework of substantive and disciplinary knowledge, supporting pupils to know and remember more through carefully considered and coherent progression. It also supports current Ofsted criteria for personal development by providing strong links to cultural capital and curriculum enrichment through studying scientists and offering suggestions for visits in the local area and further afield. It also includes expert advice throughout the document from those who have written the scheme.

The new Primary Science Scheme of Work is available for an introductory price of just £200!

It's a one-off payment for the whole package for use within your entire school. As soon as you make the purchase, your downloadable documents will be available immediately in your account area.

Credit customers can also pay for this using their credits.