Mathematics

Faculty Mission Statement/ Aims:

The Mathematics Department aims to provide all students with a rewarding and enjoyable experience of mathematics. We will prepare students to become confident, numerate individuals who are able to deal with all aspects of mathematics in their chosen career and in all aspects of their adult life.

This will be accomplished through our commitment to excellent teaching, a well-designed curriculum focused on creating mastery within Mathematics and a commitment to engaging students. We have high expectations of all students so that they will recognise and achieve their full potential. We hope that students will develop their own skills in analysis, reasoning, problem solving, collaboration and self evaluation so that they can meet the mathematical problems they face with throughout their lives with greater confidence and critical thinking.

Curriculum Planning

Getting GCSE ready years (formerly known as Key Stage 3)

Pupils start the GCSE in Year 7. It is a 5 year program that has been supported with classroom resources that build on fluency, reasoning and problem solving as students progress through the 5 years

Pupils in Years 7 and 8 have four hours of Mathematics each week and are taught into ability groups. These groups are informed by baseline testing which is completed at the end of the first half term in Autumn. There are regular assessments which monitor the progress of all our pupils as they work towards challenging targets.

All pupils are equipped with the skills to master mathematical concepts. Pupils are encouraged to think and challenge themselves to reason and to solve a variety of mathematical problems.

All students are assessed in end of year exams which inform the Mathematics groups for all pupils in the following year.

Year Group	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Year 7	1 Analysing and displaying data 2 Number skills 3 Expressions, functions and formulae 4 Decimals and measures	5 Fractions and percentages 6 Probability 7 Ratio and proportion	8 Lines and angles 9 Sequences and graphs 10 Transformations
Year 8	1 Number 2 Area and volume 3 Statistics, graphs and charts 4 Expressions and equations	5 Real-life graphs 6 Decimals and ratio 7 Lines and angles	8 Calculating with fractions 9 Straight-line graphs 10 Percentages, decimals and fractions

 

GCSE Mathematics (formerly known as Key Stage 4)  

Year 9 (Start of KS4 Curric.)	Foundation Number Algebra	Foundation Graphs, Tables & Charts Fractions & Percentages Equations, Inequalities & Sequences	Foundation Angles Averages & Range Perimeter, Area & Volume
	Higher Number Algebra	Higher Interpreting and Representing Data Fractions, Ratio and Percentages Angles and Trigonometry	Higher Graphs Area & Volume Transformation & Constructions
Year 10	Foundation Graphs Transformation Ratio & Proportion	Foundation Triangles Probability Multiplicative Reasoning	Foundation Constructions, loci, bearings Quadratic Equations  and graphs Perimeter , Area and Volume
	Higher Algebra Equations & Inequalities Probability Multiplicative Reasoning	Higher Similarity & Congruence More Trigonometry Further Statistics	Higher Algebra Rearranging Fractions Proof Solving/Simplifying Algebraic fractions Surds Functions
Year 11	Foundation Fractions Indices Standard Form	Foundation Similarity & Congruence Vectors Revision	Foundation Revision
	Higher Vectors & Geometric Proofs Proportion & Graphs	Higher Algebra Graphs Revision	Higher Revision

 

In Year 9, all pupils prepare thoroughly with an intensive 3 year Mathematics GCSE course which builds on the learning from Years 7 and 8.

There is no early entry with the course ending during the Summer GCSE exam at the end of Year 11.

Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (code 1MA1).

Pupils sit 3 examinations containing a mixture of problems and questions. The length of each paper is 1 hour and 30 mins. The Higher paper pupils can achieve grades from 9 to 4, and Foundation enables pupils to achieve grades between 5 and 1.

Paper 1 Non-calculator

Paper 2 Calculator

Paper 3 Calculator

Numeracy

Numeracy is a key whole school focus area.

Pupils are taught the skills they need for success in mathematics, and we are constantly reinforcing and reinterpreting those skills in new and exciting contexts through the wider curriculum.

Through the use of mathematics in other areas of learning, the numeracy skills of pupils are built and honed. This allows for greater success in a wide range of curriculum areas with numeracy underpinning learning.

The school has a pro-active approach to promoting numeracy, and works in collaboration with parents to provide an ideal overall climate for the implementation of numeracy at school and at home.

Assessment

Students are regularly engaged in assessment as a tool to monitor and promote further progress. Regular assessment for learning looks for success within units of work, whilst half-termly testing looks for retention of knowledge and skills over a broader base of topics. Assessments include checks on fluency, reasoning and problem solving.

Outcomes

Positive progress 8 score in 2019 – higher than the national average (no progress scores in 2020)

Progress score in Maths higher than the national average for Disadvantaged students.

What next

Many adults make it through life never having to use algebra, trigonometry or the Pythagoras Theorem as part of their careers, so why is Mathematics so valued by employers, colleges and universities?

Obviously, all of the above will prefer staff and students who are literate and numerate, but beyond that, Mathematics at GCSE helps build the skills that employers are looking for on a daily basis; skills such as, problem solving, analysis, critical thinking, communication, attention to detail, time management and independence.

This is why a Grade 4 at GCSE is so prized and why some of the most demanding and competitive careers require even higher GCSE mathematics grades, careers such as medicine, engineering, finance and the sciences.

COVID: DUE TO THE SCHOOL CLOSURES BETWEEN MARCH 2020 – JULY 2020 AND ONGOING GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SMALL, TEMPORARY ADAPTIONS TO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO RETURN TO A NORMAL CURRICULUM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME.