Science
At Broadlea Primary School, we recognise the importance of Science in every aspect of daily life and give the teaching and learning of Science the prominence it requires.
Science develops children’s curiosity, encourages respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provides opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.
We acknowledge that many of our children do not come from scientific backgrounds and many will have low Science Capital on entry. Whilst ensuring children receive an engaging and exploratory curriculum in class, we also make certain that every chance is taken to broaden what counts: building their Science Capital – relevant to them, their families and our community.
Broadlea Awarded Primary Science Quality Mark May 2022
Once again, Broadlea Primary School has been recognised for excellence in Science teaching. Our innovative and creative teaching, contribution to developing Science in our school, and engagement of pupils, has been endorsed through the Primary Science Quality Mark.
The Primary School Quality Mark programme ensures effective leadership of science, enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development in science subject leadership, teaching and learning. Schools that achieve PSQM demonstrate commitment and expertise in science leadership, teaching and learning.
We work closely with Mrs Claire Loizos, Isle of Wight Specialist Science Teacher, to plan additional opportunities to enrich our curriculum, such as organising specialist Science days, family learning evenings and afternoons, visiting speakers, Space Camps, Science Clubs, Science Fairs and educational visits, both on and off the Island.
As a Fellow of the PSTT College, Mrs Loizos works collaboratively with external agencies, such as the Ogden Trust and the PSTT, to share her expertise with Broadlea and other schools across the Isle of Wight.
STEM News 2019-20
Broadlea Primary School has been recognised for excellence in Science teaching and awarded the prestigious GOLD Space Education Quality Mark, in recognition of its excellent work compared nationally. Only a handful of primary schools have achieved Gold and Mrs Loizos has ensured that Broadlea is one of them!
UK schools and colleges receive the Space Education Quality Mark when they can show that they have significantly used the context of space in subjects, have worked with other organisations, shared resources and used space to enrich the curriculum.
The Space Education Quality Mark was created by ESERO-UK, which supports the space sector and teachers to open doors for young people from all backgrounds, by delivering inspiring world-class teaching in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
We are very fortunate that our children have such inspirational teachers at Broadlea. Mrs Claire Loizos, our Science specialist, has worked tirelessly to introduce Space Education into our Curriculum with Space Weeks, Space Mufti, Space Diaries, Mars Diaries, Deep Space Diaries, Mission Moon, a Space-themed Library, Space Camps and a whole lot more! She has also generated around £17,000 for Isle of Wight Primary Schools this year - through support from the Ogden Trust, and the Stephen Hawking Foundation - aimed at driving Physics forward on the Isle of Wight. This year, 21 Space Camps have taken place in Island primary schools, with 30 schools signed up for next academic year. She has also brought NASA Astronaut Tony Antonelli and Professor of Planetary Science, Dr Suzie Imber, to the Island, speaking to over 1500 Island primary children. In celebration of this, Broadlea have been awarded the GOLD Space Education Quality Mark, one of only a handful of schools in the country!
Year 5 had great fun investigating variables that might affect the thrust on a rocket. Some tried different fuels, some the amount of fuel, and others tried the amount of water or shape of rocket. The wind really helped to send them flying! (September 2019)
Year 4 modelled the digestive system, applying their understanding of each organ, and creating models to make their own poo! Starting with chocolate shreddies, they broke them down using mechanical digestion, added acid to digest them chemically in their 'stomach', they then added washing up liquid to represent the bile, before finally using tights to squeeze out all of the nutrients (small intestine) and water (large intestine). (September 2019)
Have you ever held the moon? … Some of our children have!
Last year, as part of Space Camp, our Year 6 children got their hands on some real Lunar samples, including a rare collection of meteorites and moon rocks. They handled and studied meteorite samples from the Campo de Ceilo, Lunar Anthrocyte, and the oldest known meteorite, dating back 4.566 billion years! They also had access to soil from the moon, which had been excavated during the Apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The collection was provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, as part of the “Borrow the Moon” scheme. While much of the lunar material brought back by NASA is used for scientific research, small quantities have been allocated to form educational packages for schools, with an aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. (May 2019)
