Here we explore the John Roan curriculum principles in the context of the science curriculum:
- Entitlement: The science curriculum covers the National Curriculum with additional content added to maximize inquiry and analytical thinking.
- Coherence: Units are sequenced to introduce knowledge, new ideas and skills in a way that begins with some of the simplest concepts and skills and builds to more complex concepts and skills including a range of vertical concepts developed over time in a variety of contexts.
- Mastery: Reviewing prior knowledge is threaded throughout all units, with concepts and skills revisited, built upon, and developed in new contexts. Vertical concepts are clearly sign posted within lessons and teachers are skilled to effectively communicate when these concepts are being interleaved.
- Adaptability: All lesson materials are regularly reviewed during designated curriculum time, with advice included to support teachers of varying levels of experience and subject expertise to feel confident in lesson delivery. Lesson include scaffolded examples to provide inclusivity and assessment tools to identify gaps in learning.
- Representation: A diverse range of names, images and scientists are used in resources throughout the curriculum so that students from all backgrounds recognise the relevance of science.
- Education with character: The science curriculum raises several ethical, culturally significant, and sensitive questions to encourage students to explore ideas and issues that go beyond the curriculum. Lessons are sign posted with explicit cultural capital links to ensure that Education with Character is referred to when relevant.