Mathematics
In mathematics, it is our intention to deliver an ambitious curriculum, which has been designed to give all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. We want to instil in students a sense of wonder at how mathematics explains phenomena in the real world whilst helping them to become confident problem solvers.
We recognise that students enter secondary school with a wide range of prior attainment. Our learning journey is designed with interleaving as a key element so we can develop, reinforce, and extend their knowledge and understanding throughout the year. Students will focus on key skills that are used throughout their education to make important connections that allow them to solve increasingly difficult problems. We firmly believe that all students can achieve in mathematics.
“Everything around you is mathematics.’’
In Key Stage 3, students will see that all teachers model high quality methods which show a clear and coherent sequencing of mathematical ideas, concepts, knowledge, and techniques both within each year and across years so that new ideas are built on the firm foundations of existing ones. A coherent view of mathematics that highlights important unifying ideas and links between them gives our students an experience of mathematics that is not as a collection of disparate topics but as a connected whole. They study a variety of topics such as equality and equivalence, measuring and using geometric notation, sets and probability, proportional reasoning, the data handling cycle, and solving problems using graphs, tables, and algebra. They will become independent, reflective thinkers whose skills not only liberate them in maths but also support them across the wider curriculum.
Students starting KS4 begin their GCSE mathematics course. They are entered for Edexcel mathematics at either Higher or Foundation level. The combination of developing fluency and mathematical understanding in tandem will enable students to use their learning accurately, efficiently, and flexibly to reason mathematically and solve routine and non-routine problems. They will revisit formal methods of calculation, manipulate, and extend algebraic procedures, solve geometric problems using mathematical reasoning and explore data analysis including graphical representations.
In mathematics, students have access to a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities to provide challenge and fuel a love for mathematics. The department enters selected students for the Junior (Years 7 and 8) and Intermediate (Years 9, 10 and 11) UK maths challenges throughout the year to deepen and extend their knowledge and skills. We also run a chess/games club one lunchtime per week, where all year groups can enjoy the challenge of playing two (or more) player strategy board games. We use an online home learning platform called SPARX maths which students use to complete their weekly tasks.