The 'Discipline Review of Teacher Education in Mathematics and Science' (Department of Employment, Education and Training, 1989) concludes that science in primary schools is in a state of crisis. This finding is not new as there have been concerns about primary school science for many years. It is likely that one of the reasons why the problem remains could relate to the attitudes and beliefs that teachers hold about the subject and its importance in the primary school curriculum. Another reason put forward relates to the limited background experiences in science of many primary school teachers. In particular, their knowledge of content matter and strategies for teaching the subject is limited. As a consequence, many primary teachers do not feel confident to teach science so they avoid it or teach only units with which they are familiar. This leads to inconsistent science teaching and an ineffective science curriculum in many primary schools. The thesis investigates the factors that influence the teaching of science in a primary school through a case study. Teachers' attitudes to, and beliefs about, the subject are explored in relation to their background experiences, teacher education and knowledge of science. How these factors influence their classroom teaching is explored through the context of the physical environment and culture of the school, the culture of teaching and the instructional leadership of the principal. The case study is based on information obtained from teacher surveys and interviews, journal entries and school documents. A typology which helps clarify factors influencing the teaching of science is developed. It provides insight into the problems of teaching the subject and how they may be addressed. A case study of the principal adds to the typology by providing the principal's perspective of science in the school. It is likely that the school featured in the case study is representative of many primary schools. The findings and recommendations may therefore have wider implications and may contribute to more effective teaching of science in many primary schools.