Mrs Michelle Hughes Subject Leader for Mathematics	Mr Thabo Nkoane Second in Mathematics	Mr Matthew Dipple Mathematics Teacher
Mr Tom McKenzie Mathmatics Teacher	Miss Anika Popat Mathematics Teacher	Mr Josh Wynn Mathematics Teacher

We emphasize the importance of basic numeracy skills and believe that students benefit from carrying out mathematical investigations to develop their problem-solving and independent enquiry skills.

We believe that every child should be able to:

• recall and applytheir knowledge of the times-tables rapidly and accurately
• extend their understanding and knowledge, for example of the number system, to include decimals, fractions, percentages, powers, roots and surds
• solve problemsby applying their mathematical knowledge to a variety of routine and non-routine problems
• solve problems by breaking them down into simpler steps
• reason mathematically by making connections between number relationships and their algebraic representations
• make generalisations and develop an argument
• know it is acceptable to make mistakes, as that is how they learn
• ask questions to further their understanding

Consolidation of learning and key skills, as well as the opportunity to explore, are central to the delivery of mathematics as they reinforce understanding.  Homework demonstrates whether students truly understand what they have been learning and is used to tailor teaching in lessons.  The cycle of setting and assessing work that is established in the lower years is consolidated at KS4.

The assessment schedule has the intention of helping students with recall and independent revision, skills which we look to develop at each key stage, and is designed to maximise student progress.

We understand the power of an effective intervention programme since progress in Maths is often an individual, rather than a class endeavour. There are a number of supportive intervention strategies used to maximise student confidence and ultimately their progress.  For example, we provide small group teaching by our Maths HLTA for students who may have SEND needs or a specific weakness with numeracy.  These run alongside the core curriculum delivery at KS3 and KS4 and allow students to consolidate their learning.

We recognise that for some students, particularly the disadvantaged students, further support in Year 11, enhances their mathematical confidence and ability.  This is facilitated through additional intervention with a Maths teacher.

At A level, we want to give students who enjoy Mathematics the chance to explore it in more depth and to engage with complex, challenging and exciting work.  We emphasize the balance between enjoyment and hard work and explain how Maths A Level is a facilitating subject which supports a number of career paths.

The reformed A Level means that students have a broader basis on which to build.  In order to bridge from GCSE to A Level, there is a transition module, supported by an algebra assessment which gives feedback to students and teachers.  The new GCSEs have provided a better bridge to A Level. 

KS3 Booklet

Year 7 Overview

Number

Students will be taught to:

• use the four operations (i.e. addition, division, multiplication and subtraction) applied to whole numbers, negative numbers and decimals up to 2 decimal places
• order negative numbers, use and understand coordinates in all four quadrants
• use the four operations with simple fractions, find fractions of amount and solve problems involving fractions
• use the equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages
• use the concepts and vocabulary of factors, multiples, prime numbers, squares and their roots
• understand and use order of operations with or without a calculator

 

Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change

Students will be taught to:

• change between standard units of time, convert between 12hr and 24hr clocks and read and interpret time on a calculator
• convert metric units of length, mass and capacity
• use ratio notation, including reduction to simplest form and divide a quantity into a given ratio
• solve simple direct proportion problems

 

Algebra

Students will be taught to:

• use and understand concepts and vocabulary of terms, expressions and equations
• expand brackets and factorise into one bracket
• simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions by collecting like terms
• substitute values into an expressions or formulae
• construct and solve linear equations with an unknown on one side only

 

Geometry and Measures

Students will be taught to:

• apply formulae to calculate and solve problems involving perimeters and areas of rectangles, triangles and compound shapes
• apply properties of angles at a point, angles on a straight line, opposite angles and angles in a triangle
• describe, sketch and draw 2-D shapes that have reflective and rotational symmetry
• Calculate volume and surface area of cubes and cuboids

 

Statistics

Students will be taught to:

• draw and interpret bar charts, pie charts and pictograms
• calculate and compare averages using mean, mode, median and range

 

Probability

Students will be taught to:

• use appropriate language and vocabulary associated with probability, including the probability scale from 0 to 1
• identify and list all outcomes of single events
• work with sample space diagrams

 

Year 8 Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Year 8:

Number

Students will be taught to:

• make and justify estimations and approximations of calculations using both whole numbers and decimals
• round numbers and measures using decimal places and significant figures
• find fractions of quantities, order and perform all four operations on improper fractions and mixed numbers
• use recurring decimal notation and convert fractions to recurring decimals
• find a percentage of an amount, find percentage increase/decrease and percentage change
• convert between ordinary numbers and standard form
• recognise and use multiples, factors, highest common factors, lowest common multiples, powers and their roots

 

Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change

Students will be taught to:

• use units of measurement (length, time, area, volume) to estimate and draw/interpret scale drawings
• use and understand links between ratio, proportion and fractions, for example value for money
• compare two ratios, interpret and use ratio in a range of contexts including solving word problems

 

Algebra

Students will be taught to:

• simplify, manipulate and transform algebraic expressions by multiplying out both single and double brackets
• solve linear equations with integer coefficients (unknown on both sides) with or without brackets
• read and draw linear inequalities on number lines and solve linear inequalities
• simplifying, add and subtract algebraic fractions
• use index rules with positive and negative indices
• generate terms of a sequence using term to term or position to term rules
• find and use mid-points of co-ordinates
• recognise and use equations and graphs of straight lines

 

Geometry and Measures

Students will be taught to:

• calculate area of a trapezium, parallelogram, converting units of area and surface area of prisms
• use formulae for circumference and area of a circle
• solve geometrical problems using angles made by parallel lines and using side and angle properties of quadrilaterals and angles in polygons
• describe and use both bearings and loci
• translate and reflect 2D shapes
• calculate volume of cuboids, prisms and know various 3D shapes using faces, edges and vertices, converting units of volume

 

Statistics

Students will be taught to:

• identify sources of data and appropriate sample size
• construct and use stem and leaf diagrams, pie charts and line graphs
• compare two or more distributions and time series graphs
• justify and communicate the results of a statistical enquiry
  

Probability

Students will be taught to:

• find and record all possible outcomes of two or more events using sample space, Venn diagrams
• find and record all mutually exclusive outcomes

KS4 Syllabus

GCSE Overview

Foundation & Higher Tier

NUMBER, RATIO & PROPORTION
• Arithmetic with integers and decimals, rounding, place value, limits of accuracy and error interval
• Factors, multiples and primes
• Indices, powers and roots
• Standard form
• Fractions and reciprocals
• Fractions, decimals and percentages conversion
• Percentages
• Ratio
• Multiplicative reasoning: direct and inverse proportion, compound measures

ALGEBRA
• Manipulating expressions, expanding and factorising
• Expressions and substitution into formulae
• Linear equations and inequalities
• Straight-line graphs
• Sequences
• Quadratic equations: expanding and factorising
• Plotting graphs: quadratic, cubic, reciprocal
• Rearranging equations and formulae
• Linear simultaneous equations
• Real-life graphs

GEOMETRY & MEASURES
• Plans, elevations, nets
• Constructions, loci, bearings and scale drawings
• Properties of shapes, parallel lines and angle facts
• Interior and exterior angles of polygons
• Perimeter, area and volume: including circles, cylinders, cones and spheres
• Transformations
• Right-angled triangles: Pythagoras and trigonometry
• Similarity and congruence in 2D
• Vectors

PROBABILITY & STATISTICS
• Drawing and interpreting graphs, tables and charts
• Representing data, including pie charts, scatter graphs
• Averages and range
• Statistics, sampling, collecting data
• Probability: including tree and Venn diagrams

Higher Tier only
NUMBER, RATIO & PROPORTION
• Calculations using upper and lower bounds
• Surds
• Repeated proportional change

ALGEBRA
• Expanding triple brackets
• Solving quadratic equations and inequalities, solving simultaneous equations algebraically, equation of a circle
• Algebraic fractions: solving equations, simplifying and changing the subject of formulae
• Algebraic direct and indirect proportion: using statements of proportionality
• Simple algebraic proof
• Nth term quadratic sequences
• Sketching graphs of circles, cubes and quadratics
• Exponential graphs, rates of change in graphs, area under a curve
• Functions and transformations of graphs

GEOMETRY & MEASURES
• Transformations: enlargement using negative scale factors
• Circle theorems and circle geometry
• Similarity and congruence in 3D and geometric proof
• Sine and cosine rules, 1/2 ab sin C, trigonometry and Pythagoras’ Theorem in 3D, trigonometric graphs
• Vectors and geometric proof

PROBABILITY & STATISTICS
• Cumulative frequency, box plots and histograms
• Conditional probability

KS5 Syllabus

A-Level Overview

Students are taught the following topics in Years 12 and 13:

A LEVEL MATHEMATICS

PURE:

• Algebra and functions
• Coordinate geometry in the (x, y) plane
• Trigonometry
• Exponentials and logarithms
• Proof
• Algebraic and partial fractions
• Functions and modelling
• Series and sequences
• The binomial theorem
• Trigonometry
• Parametric equations
• Differentiation
• Numerical methods
• Integration
• Vectors (2D & 3D)

APPLIED:

Statistics

• Statistical sampling
• Data presentation and interpretation
• Probability
• Statistical distributions – Discrete, Binomial, Normal
• Statistical hypothesis testing
• Regression and correlation

Mechanics

• Quantities and units in mechanics
• Kinematics 1 (constant acceleration)
• Forces and Newton’s laws
• Kinematics 2 (variable acceleration)
• Moments
• Forces at any angle
• Projectiles
• Applications of kinematics
• Applications of forces

We run several enrichment activities each year for students to apply functional mathematical skills in a real-life context and to develop problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills including:

• Years 7 and 8 take part in the Maths Fun Roadshow which enables them to engage in rich tasks and functional skillsThey solve problems and explore ideas.
• BP Trading Roadshow for Year 10, during which students gain an insight into how companies make business decisions and understand how a commodity such as crude oil is traded and what factors affect market price.

• In Year 8, our Gifted and Talented students work with Year 6 students to complete the Maths Trail, where students solve mathematical problems and also familiarise themselves with the school. This has helped to establish links with our feeder primary schools
• Our More Able KS4 and 5 students attend Maths Inspiration interactive lecture shows, where the UK’s most inspiring maths speakers present mathematics live in the context of exciting, real-world applications.