At Co-op Academy Hillside, we value the role that science plays in developing curiosity and wonder in our children. We aim to create the next generation of scientists, who will be instrumental in solving the issues that are ahead of us. Whether climate change, medical advancements, tackling pollution in our rivers and seas or just investigating the mysteries of our universe, children are provided with the skills to question, research, investigate and conclude about what they see around them.

Our lessons are taught with a real emphasis on acquiring key science subject knowledge, understanding and skills designed to ensure that pupils build on their prior learning. The National Curriculum is a progression model, and teachers plan teaching based on what has come before and what comes next.

White Rose Science 

We follow White Rose Science. It helps children build knowledge step by step, develop their scientific thinking, and learn through hands-on exploration. It follows the National Curriculum for Science in England and aims to make science exciting, meaningful, and memorable for all pupils.

What are the goals of White Rose Science?

- Encourage curiosity about the world

- Build understanding of key scientific ideas (like materials, plants, forces, and space)

- Develop investigation skills—asking questions, testing ideas, and drawing conclusions

- Introduce scientific vocabulary in a child-friendly way

- Revisit and reinforce learning to help children remember more over time

How is the curriculum structured?

See curriculum overview

Each topic is broken into small, manageable lessons, helping children build knowledge gradually and confidently.

What skills do our pupils learn?

In every topic, children also develop their "working scientifically" skills:
- Asking thoughtful questions
- Carrying out simple experiments
- Observing closely and measuring carefully
- Recording results (in tables, drawings, or graphs)
- Explaining what they discovered

These skills help them think like scientists and apply their learning in real-life situations.

Enchancements

We enhance the curriculum through workshops, trips and visits - including Blue Planet Aquarium, Liverpool Morld Museum, Imagine That, SpacePort and Eureka.