The Provider:

High Down Infant School, North Somerset

The school intake is 90 per year group with a potential 104 into Nursery.  It currently has 258 pupils on roll plus 88 (44) Nursery children.  High Down Infants is the only infant school in Portishead.  5% of children are entitled to free school meals.  The school is well below the national average for Special Needs pupils, pupils from ethnic minorities and pupils using EAL.

Summary:

High Down Infants has developed a range of practical, investigation based workshops to enhance the teaching and learning of Science skills.  This is a whole school approach starting in the Foundation Stage with Discovery Workshops leading into Science Workshops at Key Stage 1.  This innovative range of teaching activities and styles has had an impact on the Science knowledge and skills gained by the children.  This has lead to outstanding levels of attainment with 99-100% of pupils attaining level 2 or above and over 60% attaining level 3 since 2003.

The Aim:

Science teaching and learning has always been a strength of the school.  Staff have used recent professional development on questioning and learning styles to further enhance Science teaching throughout the school.

What do you see in the school?

• End of Key Stage Assessments.  End of Year 1 science workshop and units of work.
• First school in area to work with Avon Wildlife Trust to develop a trail in Weston Big Wood now included in S of W.
• Healthy Living Week range of activities and experiences
• Knowledge and understanding at FS
• Levelling of pupil work.
• NC science at Year 2
• Open door for interested people.
• Parental support for workshops – prioritise responses from parents of Science evenings
• Primary science Review issue 94.
• S of W based on ATI skills.  Using and applying.  Include Assessment opportunities.
• School invited to contribute to primary science review highlighting benefits of successful out reach with Bristol University Chemistry labs.
• Science co-ordinator led Science weeks including science evenings for parents and pupils
• Science policy.
• Science September 2006 developing Wild Life Area.
• Science week range of activities and experiences involving parents and links with University of Bristol chemistry department.
• Share good practice with core cluster of schools.
• SIP action plan.
• Students of UWE – visitors to develop their science teaching skills
• Target setting process
• Timetabled LSA support for science and discovery workshops.
• Updates on Science curriculum reported to Governors in Headteacher report and to parents in school newsletters.
• Whole school embraced ‘hands on’ provision with target on ATI skills VAK activities and full use of outside environment.
• Whole school evaluation leading to discussion of future developments in teaching and learning.
• Yearly evaluation linked to School Improvement Plan.

What difference does it make?

• Very good science teaching and results.
• Improved collaborative group work during Discovery/Science workshops.
• Highly motivated pupils, keen scientific learners enjoying learning and having fun.
• Highly developed ATI skills.
• Pupils able to use their science skills and knowledge.

From where is evidence collected to prove the Leading Aspect?

• Assessments at end of FS, KS1
• Children able to apply their science learning to other real life intentions.
• Cluster meeting agenda/minutes.
• Development plans and current development activities.
• Discovery workshop
• Discussion with parents about children taking their learning home.
• Discussions with LSAs, parent helpers and pupils.
• Headteacher reports/Governors minutes.
• Information about a visit from a new science co-ordinator from another school.
• Letter from science governor and representative from Bristol University.
• Links with Bristol University – letter from lead governor.
• Minutes from Governor meetings.
• Monitoring and Evaluation reports.
• Nursery children learning in class.
• OFSTED report paragraphs 19.51 -52 and 69 – 73.
• Parental/Pupil questionnaires.
• Photos of pupils working with Avon Wildlife Trust.
• Primary science review.
• S of W for science assessment for units of work.
• School Improvement Plan and review.
• Science policy.
• Science S of W.
• Science workshop
• Student placements.

The Verifiers Comment

• Highly motivated, keen, scientific learners who see learning as fun and related to every day life.
• A strong, effective science ‘leader’ who builds capacity for ongoing improvements by:-
• Giving a clear direction with high expectations
• Updating the curriculum for the needs of the future – eg solar energy
• Engaging all staff through consultation and collaborative working as a team.
• Planned first hand experiences for all children whereby they can explore, experiment and try out learning in an open ended way.
• Thoughtful, systematic, challenging, well resourced activities that ensure a real range of opportunities for learning for all children in all year groups.
• Systematic, structured approach to developing teaching and learning which ensures equality opportunity for all pupils with continuity across year groups.
• A strong cross curricular approach to teaching and learning whereby opportunities are sought to include science in most areas of learning.
• Confidence and skills of new teachers, LSAs and parent helpers developed within a strong whole school culture and ethos includes:
• Excellent teacher role models
• Clear structured guidance
• Opportunity to initiative and develop own ideas eg LSA starting a gardening club
• Regular evaluation of process and outcomes of learning.
• A strong climate of trust whereby all opinions are valued leading to highly motivated and enthusiastic adults.
• Supportive governing body and parent association that recognises and celebrates the contribution of all staff and raises resources from the wider community to support the ongoing developments. Effective use of outside agencies as partners in learning eg Bristol University chemlabs, Avon Wildlife Trust – innovative development of Weston woodtrail.
• Active engagement of children to construct and develop a wildlife area.
• Annual science focus weeks that engage all children in new experiences.
• Successful science evenings for families to attend with hands on activities that engage, enhance and motivate science learning.