Whipton Barton Federation has been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM), a national accolade awarded for exceptional science teaching and strong subject leadership.
The award recognises the school’s strong focus on high quality science teaching and its success in sparking pupils’ curiosity through hands-on investigation and exploration. The assessment team highlighted that the school has shaped an effective development plan that ensures science teaching is engaging, challenging and accessible for all pupils, including those with special educational needs. They also noted that staff have benefited from targeted professional development, which has strengthened curriculum design, boosted teacher confidence and encouraged rich scientific discussion in the classroom.
Run by the University of Hertfordshire, the PSQM is granted after a demanding year-long programme of professional development involving a full audit, targeted improvements and detailed evidence gathering.
At Whipton Barton Federation, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, staff are committed to nurturing children’s curiosity about the world from the moment they join the school, developing every pupil as a confident young scientist through a rich and carefully sequenced science curriculum.
Scientific enquiry skills are introduced in Reception and steadily developed throughout each primary year, with pupils exploring questions about materials, plants, animals, forces, space, sustainability and more. Across the school, children learn to observe closely, record findings, plan investigations, use scientific vocabulary and explain their thinking with increasing precision.
Louise Moretta, Executive Headteacher at Whipton Barton Federation said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Primary Science Quality Mark. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, who are passionate about giving every child the chance to explore, question and understand the world around them. Our pupils show such enthusiasm for science and this award celebrates the strong culture of curiosity that runs throughout our school.”
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