What is the Oxfordshire Primary School Science Competition?

Each year, our school participates in the Oxfordshire Primary School Science Competition - a county-wide event designed to promote curiosity, scientific enquiry and independent investigation. Although information about the competition isn’t widely published, our involvement over many years means it has become a valued part of our science provision.

This competition:

• encourages children to design and carry out their own scientific enquiries
• promotes independence, resilience and problem solving
• celebrates creativity and “thinking like a scientist”
• allows pupils to showcase their ideas to judges and other schools

It strongly aligns with our vision for Science and our PSQM principles of enquiry, independence, and high expectations.

What the Competition Involves

Children across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are invited to:

• choose a scientific question or problem they are curious about
• plan how to investigate it
• gather equipment
• test, observe, record and adjust their methods
• present findings clearly and confidently

Past examples from your PSQM portfolio include:

• Y3/4 investigating the relationship between bones and muscles
• Y1/2 exploring how materials can be changed
• Reception investigating magnets, ice and egg strength
• Y5/6 investigating light, refraction and evaporation

Many of these projects also prepared children beautifully for competition work.

Aston Rowant’s Success in the Competition

Our pupils regularly perform extremely well. Highlights from your PSQM portfolio include:

• Finalists in previous years in Oxfordshire’s Big Science Event (Science Oxford)
• 2nd place in the county in recent competitions

These achievements reflect the strength of scientific enquiry at Aston Rowant and the confidence children develop.

Why This Competition Matters

Building Independence and Enquiry Skills

Children take full ownership of their investigations — planning, resourcing, carrying out and evaluating their findings.

Developing Enthusiasm

Pupils love the freedom to explore their own questions. One Year 4 child simply said:

“Big Science – I want more Big Science!”

Raising Science Capital

By sharing their projects with wider audiences, pupils recognise the importance of science in real life.

Supporting Scientific Thinking

The competition strengthens key skills such as:

• systematic working
• decision making
• accurate recording
• evaluation and reflection

Celebrating Excellence

It gives children a sense of pride and achievement — especially when their ideas are recognised at county level.

Continuing Our Participation

We continue to take part every year because it enriches our curriculum and promotes the high-quality, enquiry-led science that Aston Rowant is known for.

As we work towards our Gilt PSQM requalification, the competition continues to be a central part of developing:

• independence
• creativity
• collaboration
• high aspiration