Introduction
Our purpose is to provide our children with the best opportunities and experiences; preparing and guiding them on their journey as happy, confident life long learners. We strive to achieve this by designing our lesson content through the Welsh Curriculum's Four Purposes of Learning, hence developing: ambitious, capable learners ready to learn throughout their lives; enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work; ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world and healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
The following policy outlines the purpose, nature and management of science and technology taught at Barry Island Primary. It is based upon the principles set out in the 'Curriculum for Wales' (Welsh Government 2022) while accounting for the 'Digital Competence Framework' (Welsh Government, 2016) together with the 'National Literacy and Numeracy Framework' (Welsh Government, 2013).
Background
The importance of developing our pupils' science and technology skills can not be overstated. A recent report from the National Assembly's Skills Committee found that artificial intelligence and automation will dominate the workplace for the next 40 years (National Assembly For Wales, 2018). This means that potentially, many of our pupils will go on to have careers in the science and technology sector, or at the very least, they will find this area increasingly relevant in their future life choices that they make. Therefore, we aim to expose our pupils to as many of these skills as possible in authentic, innovative and inspiring ways.
The Science and Technology Area of Learning draws on the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and design and technology. However, these disciplines are taught holistically, through the following six 'What Matters' Statements:
- Being curious and searching for answers is essential to understanding and predicting phenomena.
- The world around us is full of living things which depend on each other for survival.
- Matter and the way it behaves defines our universe and shapes our lives.
- Forces and energy provide a foundation for understanding our universe.
- Design thinking and engineering offer technical and creative ways to meet society's needs and wants.
- Computation is the foundation for our digital world.
These ‘What matters’ statements are differentiated across five progression steps that are taught and learnt in a ‘stage not age’ manner. As a learner makes progress, these progression steps ensure that there is increased sophistication and complexity of the concepts and skills taught.
Teaching and Learning of the Science and Technology AOLE at Barry Island Primary
Wherever possible, we feel that science and technology should be taught in an immersive, authentic and holistic style. We have multiple different initiatives and equipment to achieve this:
SAM Labs
SAM Labs is a one of a kind STEAM education and coding resource which ensures that the Science and Technology AOLE is taught in a truly holistic manner. The lessons are taught in a group project based format, ensuring that pupils also develop their key skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving skills, alongside their literacy and communication skills. Art is also a contributing discipline within our SAM Labs’ STEAM lessons. We feel that incorporating this shows a truly holistic approach to delivering high quality teaching and learning within the Science and Technology AOLE. This is because STEAM not only focusses on innovation but also design thinking, flexibility and creativity- all required skills for a successful career in any field of study.
British Science Week
Every year, alongside British Science Week, we plan an engaging STEAM week for our learners. This truly brings out pupil excitement and opens everyone’s minds to the possibilities and awe-inspiring wonder based within the Science and Technology AOLE. We plan trips and invite visitors into school to ensure that children have real life and authentic learning experiences. In 2022, British Science Week’s theme was ‘Growth’. Our pupils loved handling various reptiles and learning about this unique class of vertebrate. Each year group was also inspired by their class Venus flytrap and were eager to find out more about these distinctive carnivorous plants.
Using Our Garden and Eco Lodge
In 2022, we installed an eco community lodge in our garden, providing a laboratory and classroom which thoroughly facilitates teaching and learning in the outdoor environment . Thank you to Altrad for your generous donation, as well as the Vale of Glamorgan Council's support to make this a possibility. Our garden also includes a pond, vegetable patches and a rockery for the children to explore.
Science and Technology Partnerships at Barry Island Primary
We are very passionate about providing all of our learners with real life, authentic and relevant learning experiences and we pride ourselves on developing working partnerships with local organisations in order to achieve the very best learning opportunities for our children.
Manufacturing
In 2022, we created a whole school manufacturing project whilst working closely with Cardiff Metropolitan University and other organisations, such as the Welsh Coastal Monitoring Centre and Renishaw. Year groups had a different element of manufacturing to focus on, such as farming and food, fashion, the flight industry, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Project Zero
In 2021, we worked collaboratively alongside The Vale of Glamorgan Council to create a New Curriculum scheme of work based around ‘Project Zero’, the council’s future climate initiatives and goals. Each year group partnered up with a link council worker who offered the children multiple real life learning opportunities, such as school trip visits to Porthkerry to help with conservation efforts, local farm visits, as well as in school visits from local refuse collectors and their vehicles.
Welsh Coastal Monitoring Centre
Simultaneously within the same year, we developed a working partnership with the Welsh Coastal Management Centre and collaboratively designed a New Curriculum set of lessons exploring the impacts of climate change in our local area. Through local flooding maps and risk analysis, the scheme ultimately provides children with the necessary tools and knowledge to help them make informed decisions about how to mitigate themselves against the impacts of climate change both in our local area and beyond.
Local Schools
We are passionate at sharing our good practise and as a result, this scheme of work was the main driver and focus of our feeder high school’s year 6 transition project, meaning that all primary schools within our catchment area developed the same science and technology skills together.
Avantis Ambassadors
We are also proud to be ClassVR Avantis Ambassadors and enjoy being influential advocates for this technology. In 2022, we recently participated in a case study, showcasing some of the immersive virtual reality lessons that our pupils have participated in.
Severn Vision
As demonstrated, as a school we are always eager to promote our local area and the challenges that it may face due to climate change. As a result, we are ambassadors for the Severn Vision Project. It is currently in its early stages of development, however, we are excited to help protect our local coastal area alongside many other schools and charities that surround this delicate environmental location.
Coding Equipment
Alongside SAM Labs, Barry Island Primary has various equipment to help facilitate pupils’ computational thinking and coding skills, such as Beebots, Spheros, code-able drones and Microbits. These physical devices help to bring both excitement and a deeper understanding to an otherwise quite abstract, yet vital, skill.
The Digital Competence Framework at Barry Island Primary
With society's increasing digital reliance, it is also vital that we arm our pupils with the knowledge and ability to navigate the online and world both safely and responsibly. We strive to achieve this by teaching and learning through these subsequent strands: citizenship; interacting and collaborating; producing and data and computational thinking.
Our pupils have constant access to a multitude of different information technology equipment to help aid them in developing their everyday computing skills. Each classroom has a range of iMacs, MacOS desktop computers, Chromebooks and iPads with access to a range of software, such as Hwb, Adobe, J2e, Purple Mash and Scratch. The DCF is entwined throughout all of our lessons and reading carousels so that our pupils understand that technology has a significant part to play in their everyday lives. The ‘Computing Unlocked’ scheme of work facilitates the development of our pupils’ digital skills and e-safety knowledge through lessons which can be amended to match a year group’s current themes and topics.
Digital Monitors and e-Cadets
An integral part of the DCF is to ensure that all pupils know how to stay safe when online and how to use the internet responsibly. At Barry Island, we are extremely passionate at providing our pupils with the skills to do this and our year six digital monitors and year group e-Cadets play a vital part in doing this. They will lead assemblies informing pupils of how to stay safe online and will hold competitions to ensure that online safety is always at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Responsibilities for the Delivery of the Science and Technology AOLE
The Science and Technology AOLE Lead is responsible for ensuring curriculum coverage within this area across the school. They are also responsible for providing support to other teachers who deliver this area of learning during lessons and provide expertise when necessary through staff training and inset sessions. It is then the class teacher’s responsibility to plan relevant and meaningful lessons that cater for the needs of each child.
Other policies refer to subject-related issues and should be read in conjunction with this policy statement (e.g. Marking Policy, Learning and Teaching Policy, Assessment Policy, Health and Safety Policy, ALN Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy etc).
Monitoring, Evaluating and Reviewing
Alongside Barry Island’s self evaluation process, the school will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.
Next Review: April 2023
Relevant Documents and Information
- Science and Technology AOLE Lead: Mrs N Hicks
- Link LSA:
- Link Governor: