Skip to content ↓

STEM

Our curriculum is balanced and broadly based. It consists of all the activities designed or encouraged in the school to develop the intellectual, personal, social and physical activities in the children.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. At Highfield South Farnham School, all children have dedicated mathematicssciencecomputing and design and technology lessons in which they learn about the scientific processes that underpin our world and develop a deep understanding of mathematics rooted in context.

Our carefully planned curriculum ensures progression and coverage and intends that children will develop into happy, confident and independent individuals with a secure foundation in learning that will last throughout their lives.

Please find below further information about the teaching of mathematicssciencecomputing and design and technology at Highfield South Farnham School and our individual curriculum intentions.

 

Mathematics

At Highfield South Farnham School, it is our intention to deliver a high quality mathematics education which provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics.

Our curriculum ensures that all children:

  • Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics in order to develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately.
  • Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
  • Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems.

Each pupil has a daily mathematics lesson covering the aims and objectives from the National Curriculum. Through direct teaching, interactive discussion and guided practice, pupils are supported to develop fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Each week, pupils are set a home learning activity related to their previous week's learning to embed their understanding. Further details of this are available in the homework section of the website.

 

Science

The high quality science curriculum at Highfield South Farnham School ensures all children are:

  • Taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science.
  • Encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation, predict how things will behave, analyse causes and develop an excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena.
  • Equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.

Each week pupils study at least two hours of science, covering the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum. Each year group receives a balanced curriculum through varied topics and investigations including: scientific enquiry, life processes and living things, materials and their properties, and physical processes.

In addition to the planned curriculum, each year group has an educational visit or workshop linked closely to their science studies. These include visits toRHS Garden Wisley to explore plants and habitats, a planetarium workshop to support the learning across the school, and a visit to the Natural History Museum in London.

 

Computing

Our curriculum ensures all children can understand the principles of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms, evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems.

Our curriculum:

  • Prepares all our children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world in which we live.
  • Ensures all children can understand the principles of computer science, analyse problems in computational terms and evaluate and apply information technology to solve problems. This enables children to be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of technology.
  • Teaches the importance of good online safety practices and develops understanding and strategies in order for children to stay safe on the internet wherever it is used.

Each pupil has a weekly computing lesson covering the aims and objectives from the National Curriculum. Through a combination of practical, computer-based learning and theoretical activities, children develop a wide range of skills and knowledge across the three key strands of computer science, information technology and digital literacy.

Children will become familiar with a wide range of program languages and software including Scratch, Python, HTML, and Kodu. Each of these are freely accessible online and many of our children choose to continue their learning outside of school, bringing in their projects to share with their peers.

For more information about how you can support your child to stay safe online, please visit our online safety section

 

Design and Technology

Our curriculum intends to inspire creativity, imagination, risk-taking, innovation and a critical understanding of the impact of design technology on daily life and the wider world. Children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values whilst enabling them to use and apply skills from other curriculum subjects.

Each pupil studies a design and technology unit per term, covering the full range of aims and objectives as outlined in the National Curriculum. Through exciting and engaging lessons, pupils gain the skills to design, make, evaluate and apply technical knowledge to a range of projects.