This was the first National Curriculum for Science in England and Wales. One intention of the National Curriculum was that all students aged 5 to 16 learn science – that there should be ‘Science for All’ – and that this should include both the ‘methods of science’ and the acquisition of ‘knowledge and understanding...

This revision of the National Curriculum was an attempt to simplify the 1989 version, and to make assessment more manageable.

*The 17 Attainment Targets (AT) were reduced to four – with these divided into ‘strands’.

*Fewer Statements of Attainment: the number was approximately halved by broadening...

This revision of the National Curriculum builds on the 1991 version and follows Sir Ron Dearing’s 1993 review of the whole National Curriculum.

*It retains the four Attainment Targets (AT), each with an associated Programme of Study (PoS), although AT1 becomes ‘Experimental and investigative science’, and...

The National Curriculum for science, published in 1999. Compared with the 1995 version of the National Curriculum, the main changes are:
*There is a statement about the ‘Importance of Science’.
*The ‘Experimental and investigative science’ sections are renamed ‘Scientific enquiry’, with an emphasis on a...

This version of the National Curriculum was written to include only changes to the Key Stage Four Programme of Study (PoS) which would be first assessed in 2006. The Attainment Targets (AT) and PoS for Key Stages One, Two and Three did not change at this time. At Key Stage Four, the following overall changes were...

This resource aimed at older primary children, covers many aspects of working scientifically whilst learning about materials and their properties. The learning is based upon actual processes used in an industry which researches, develops and produces ingredients for a wide variety of applications. Letters from...

Produced by the Earth Science Teachers' Association, these resources help students to identify simple rock types and encourage the observation of weathering properties of rocks.

Activities include a visit to a local graveyard to survey the commemorative stones used. Curriculum links include rock cycle,...

Published in September 2010, this summary of an online survey focusses on attempting to understand the factors relating to the retention of science teachers.

The full collection of STEM Learning impact and evaluation research reports can be viewed here...

This is a report of a SCORE workshop held in September 2011 at the Royal Society to explore the place of scientific enquiry in the national curriculum. The report summarises the main issues raised and describes the views of the participants. The workshop was chaired by Libby Steele, Head of Education at the Royal...

This collection contains lists of the key scientific vocabulary encountered at primary level, ready to be printed off and used in class. The lists are divided by year group and topic, however could be adapted for use across the primary phase. Many topics include either word mats or loop cards to help children learn...

This resource contains lists of the key vocabulary used in many of the topics studied at primary level. Aimed originally at the five to seven age range, the lists could also be used to support older children learning these topics.

This resource contains lists of vocabulary, loop cards and word mats to help develop an understanding of key scientific words at primary level.

The twelve vocabulary lists cover the topics of: materials and their...

This resource contains lists of vocabulary to help develop an understanding of key scientific words at primary level. The twelve vocabulary lists cover the topics of: electricity, sound, states of matter, earth and space, interdependence and adaptation, keeping healthy, life cycles, microorganisms, dissolving and...