FAQs & Help

What is Sigma Science?

Sigma Science offers schools a complete scheme for Primary Science and the New 2014 Science Curriculum. It is designed so that children learn through investigation, experimentation and scientific enquiry - in other words, real science. Teachers access the resources electronically via the website, and download, print and use the resources as they see fit, to both support their teaching and the pupils learning. Sigma Science is a living library of resources and will continue to grow, develop and evolve with the demands of an ever changing curriculum.

Sigma Science was developed for one very simple reason: to put investigation and practical work back into Primary Science. Pressure to succeed in Science SAT tests has led to an instructional method of teaching at the expense of learning through exploration and scientific enquiry. At present, Sigma Science is the only scheme that assesses accurately both scientific enquiry and knowledge and understanding skills, combining these to give an overall assessment of attainment in Science.

We offer free sample resources, so that teachers can make an informed judgement about the product. In order to access the rest of the Sigma Science scheme, you can purchase a subscription (which can be tailored to suit our school) of either 1 or 2 years.

Check out our sample resources - the standard is representative of the whole of Sigma Science for the Curriculum 2014 documentation. We have posted some of our resources on the TES website and have received lots of positive feedback.

Enter your login details in the log in box on the Sigma Science main page (remember that the username and password are case-sensitive) and click on the login button. The login box will change, showing that you are logged in, and you will be taken to the main Sigma Science page where you can browse the resources, grouped by year group, Curriculum 2014 units. Once purchasing a package all customers will have a 14 day cooling off period where full refunds will be given if cancellations are confirmed during this period.

We can easily upgrade your account so that you can access other year groups without setting up several usernames. Simply purchase an additional subscription via PayPal, BACS or cheque, using the contact email address that you originally subscribed with and we'll upgrade your account access. Purchases made via PayPal will be upgraded instantly. Purchases made by BACS will be processed within 48 hours and payments made via cheque will be activated upon receipt of the cheque and accompanying order form/invoice (this can be printed off as you complete your order).

Sigma Science is designed to be versatile, not prescriptive. You may want to use them as printable activities, or display them on data projectors as stimuli, or use them as reference material when creating your own resources. You know what works best for you, your school, and your children. Whatever way you choose to use Sigma Science, we're sure that it will save you time and support your teaching.

The mark schemes (answer keys) for both KS1 and KS2 assessment are located within the Assessment packages.

Sigma Science is divided into Key Stages and year groups. A subscription to a year group costs £40 for one year and £60 for two years; this give you access to the Curriculum 2014 documentation within that year group. Access to all Key Stage 1 teaching resources and assessments costs £160 for a one year subscription and £240 for a two year subscription. Access to all Key Stage 2 teaching resources and assessments costs £320 for a one year subscription and £480 for a two year subscription. Sigma Science Assessment KS1, which tracks attainment throughout the whole of KS1 costs £80 for a one year subscription or £120 for a two year subscription. Sigma Science Assessment KS2, which tracks attainment throughout the whole of KS2 costs £160 for a one year subscription or £240 for a two year subscription.
The complete package gives you access to all our resources and costs £480 for a one year subscription or £720 for a two year subscription.

You get a 12 or 24 month subscription to the product(s) of your choice. You can use your Sigma Science username and password to download your resources as often as you like, from any computer with Internet access, anywhere in the world. We add new resources on a regular basis in order to give teachers more choice and variety.

Put simply, all PayPal payments will give you automatic access to the product(s) of your choice. Once completed you will receive an email confirming your order and payment, this can be used as an invoice/receipt of payment for your school records. BACS payments will see your orders placed on 'pending'. These order will be activated within 48 hours upon confirmation of your payment, an email confirming your order will be sent when your account becomes live, this email can be used as an invoice/receipt for your school records. Payments made by cheque must be accompanied by a purchase order form/invoice confirmation. These can be printed via the purchase page when completing your order. Your account will be placed on 'pending' and will be activated upon receipt of your cheque and order form.

We accept a variety of payment methods. If you pay online via PayPalTM, you can pay by credit card, debit card, or directly from your PayPalTM account. We also accept payment by cheque. Cheque payments should be accompanied by an order form, which can be printed via the site when completing your order. The payment order form is used to confirm the product(s) you have purchased.

Any online transaction you have with us takes place on the PayPalTM website. We never ever see any of your credit card details: we just receive notification from PayPalTM that you have made a payment to us.

The licence is straightforward, reasonable, and identical to most software licences. If you're purchasing a subscription to Sigma Science on behalf of a school or institution, then the resources may only be used within that school or institution for the duration of the subscription. If you're purchasing Sigma Science as a private individual (such as a teacher paying with their own money) then that individual may use them in the school(s) where they are employed for the duration of the subscription. Though Sigma Science resources are intended to be downloaded, you must not distribute them to other parties, for free or for payment, as this would constitute software piracy. Nor must you share your login details with other parties, even for preview purposes. This licence also applies to the free resources.