Maths

Topic Overview

The academic year 2024–2025 topic overview can be accessed by clicking the link below.

Maths Topic Overview

Intent Statement

The aim of the Mathematics Department is to enable all pupils to recognise mathematics as an essential tool to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, financial literacy and most forms of employment. We deliver a high-quality mathematics education, so all our students understand the place within it. Our curriculum nurtures an appreciation of the beauty of mathematics and its logical thinking power to solve problems and transform lives. We want students to enjoy doing maths and to be curious and have a “can-do” attitude to problem solving.

We understand that our young people come to us under very challenging circumstances and can be traumatised in many areas of their life including education. There may be large gaps in their schooling which impact their knowledge and skills or they could have extremely high expectations of themselves and attempt to project ‘perfection’ through their education. Their mental health issues can also impact their ability to approach mathematical problem or to analyse word problem.

Curriculum

We provide a wide and varied Mathematics curriculum across all key stages, introducing pupils to quality learning which covers all areas of the maths curriculum (algebra, number and ratio, data handling and geometry) and make connections across the curriculum’s pupils are able to move fluently between different representations of mathematical ideas. We try to make the subject enjoyable.

We ensure that every individual works to the best of their ability and make optimal progression.

Our aim is to inspire and motivate pupils, providing appropriate stretch and challenge, and all Maths staff have high expectations whilst meeting the individual needs of their mental health challenges. We aim to provide pupils with a solid foundation on which to build their futures, and effectively equip them with the knowledge, skills and understanding that they need in order to reintegrate and be successful in an increasingly demanding world.

KS3

Students are taught Mathematics in mixed ability key stage groups and have 4 x 50 minute lessons per week. When possible, we meet individual needs of the students who usually work on different levels of attainment, occasionally we provide opportunity for them to work in pairs in order to support pupils continuing with their class experience of learning, benefiting from group work, peer discussion and prevent them from being ‘isolated’ within the classroom. As well as the content of mathematics we support students with mathematical processes: developing analytical skills, using maths in real life contexts, problem solving, using ICT effectively, being creative, and working effectively individually and in teams.

KS4

In Years 10 and 11, students are taught in mixed ability key stage groups for Maths. All young people have the opportunity to study GCSE courses. GCSE students will have 5 x 50 minutes lessons per week. We follow the Edexcel Maths syllabus which is examined at the end of the course. The new GCSE is assessed using 3 exams: the first without a calculator and the second and third with a calculator. There is a foundation tier covering grades 1-5 and a higher tier covering grades 5-9. All exams include functional maths which we believe will support the quality of mathematical thinking of our students now and in the future. Mathematics is also tested for the accuracy and rigour of mathematical communication. Throughout the course we provide a revision programme, practice booklet and mock exams.