🔬  Science at Friday Bridge

At Friday Bridge, we follow the CUSP Mixed-Age Science Curriculum, a carefully sequenced and evidence-informed programme that ensures all children, regardless of age or class structure, receive a rich and coherent science education.

Our approach is rooted in the National Curriculum but goes far beyond it. With CUSP, we focus on building deep substantive knowledge (the facts and concepts of science) and disciplinary knowledge (how to think and work like a scientist). Children learn to observe, question, investigate, and explain the world around them through hands-on experiments, structured inquiry, and exciting real-world contexts.

🧠 How We Teach Science

• Mixed-Age Planning: Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of mixed-age classes. Each topic includes adapted resources that allow teachers to secure and extend learning for all pupils.
• Knowledge-Rich Lessons: Every unit builds on prior learning, helping children make meaningful connections and develop long-term memory.
• Working Scientifically: Pupils develop key scientific skills through structured tasks that promote thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.
• Vocabulary-Focused: We explicitly teach scientific vocabulary to help children articulate their ideas clearly and confidently.
• Inclusive and Adaptive: With dual knowledge notes and flexible planning, we ensure all learners—including those with SEND—can access and enjoy science.

🌍 What Children Learn

From exploring habitats and materials in Key Stage 1 to investigating forces, electricity, and evolution in Key Stage 2, our pupils become increasingly confident and capable scientists. They learn about the lives of inspirational scientists, past and present, and understand how science shapes our world.

📚 Beyond the Classroom

We enrich our science curriculum with:

• Strong Start lessons to ignite curiosity each term
• Reference lessons to ensure all pupils begin with a shared foundation
• Cumulative quizzes and Thinking Science tasks to support memory and mastery
• Cross-curricular links that connect science to reading, geography, and more

At Friday Bridge, we believe every child can be a scientist.