Mathematics
For an overview of the pathways through the curriculum, please see our information page here.
Welcome to the Mathematics Department
Our Vision
Real Mathematics involves problem solving, creating ideas and representations, exploring puzzles, discussing methods and the different ways of working.
As a department we aim to produce individuals who have these skills in abundance and the ability to apply them to all situations in life.
Mathematics is the universal language that transcends all boundaries and we aim to make our students fluent.
Curriculum
Click below to learn about how the Curriculum is planned, delivered and assessed in Maths.
Students across all year groups have eight hours of mathematics lessons per fortnight. Students are grouped by attainment into four classes on each side of the year group, except in year 11 when an extra group is created to give students more support in preparation for their G.C.S.E exams. Students who sit the higher tier paper in year 11 also have the opportunity to study statistics in Year 11, allowing them to achieve an extra G.C.S.E.
KS3
Year 7
| Autumn | BASELINE |
| Place Value and Rounding | |
| Calculations and Estimation | |
| Notation, Constructions and Measurements | |
| Algebraic Notation and Simplifying Expressions | |
| Angles and Properties of 2D shapes | |
| Revision and Assessment Review | |
| Standard Form | |
| Spring | Types of Number |
| Ratio | |
| Revision and Assessment Review | |
| Substitution | |
| Fractions | |
| Solving Equations | |
| Perimeter and Area | |
| Revision for Terminal Exams | |
| Summer | Terminal Exams and Review |
| Units of Measure | |
| Constructing and Interpreting Data | |
| Percentages | |
| Gambia Project | |
| Transformations |
Year 8
| Autumn | Calculations |
| Angles | |
| Revision, Assessment and Review | |
| Scatter Graphs | |
| Simplifying Expressions | |
| 3D Shapes | |
| Fractions | |
| Indices | |
| Spring | Probability |
| Solving Equations | |
| Revision, Assessment and Review | |
| Percentages | |
| Inequalities | |
| Proportion | |
| Graphs | |
| Averages and Spread | |
| Summer | Revision |
| Terminal Exams and Review | |
| Scales, Scale Factors and Bearings | |
| Compound Measures | |
| CAMP WEEK | |
| Sequences |
KS4 - Year 9-11
Higher GCSE Scheme of Learning
Foundation GCSE Scheme of Learning
OUR VISION
We have developed an inspiring, motivating and coherent maths syllabus for the entire ability range, which emphasises and encourages:
- Sound understanding of concepts
- Fluency in procedural skill
- Competency to apply mathematical skills in a range of contexts
- Confidence in mathematical problem solving
WHAT STAYS THE SAME, WHAT CHANGES?
- The minimum assessment time will now be a total of four and a half hours for both Foundation and Higher tiers.
- The new Maths GCSE will count as two qualifications but with one only a single grade.
- A new list of required content has been published and there is an expectation that students will memorise many more formulae than previously.
- Questions in assessments will be less clearly structured and more open-ended, frequently set within real-world contexts.
- GCSE Maths will no longer have marks allocated to Quality of Written Communication (QWC) in selected questions, but ‘communicate information accurately’ is a part of the new AO2.
- A new content area has been added, ‘Ratio, proportion and rates of change’ and the weightings of each content area are set by Ofqual at each tier as below (±3%).
| Strand | Foundation | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 25% | 15% |
| Algebra | 20% | 30% |
| Ratio and proportion | 25% | 20% |
| Geometry and measures | 15% | 20% |
| Probability and statistics | 15% | 15% |
GCSE (9-1) MATHEMATICS AT A GLANCE
Here’s a brief look at some of the course content and the Assessment Objective changes that been brought in for new GCSE (9-1) Maths qualifications. For the full list of content, please see our new GCSE (9-1) scheme of work(attached)
Subject content introduced in the new GCSE:
- Know the exact values of sinθ and cosθ for θ = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°; know the exact value of tanθ for θ = 0°, 30°, 45° and 60° (Foundation and Higher tiers).
- Use inequality notation to specify simple error intervals due to truncation or rounding (Foundation and Higher tiers). • Use Venn diagrams (Foundation and Higher tiers).
- Work with percentages greater than 100% (Foundation and Higher tiers).
- Recognise and use the equation of a circle with centre at the origin; find the equation of a tangent to a circle at a given point (Higher tier only).
- Find approximate solutions to equations numerically using iteration (Higher tier only).
- Interpret the gradient at a point on a curve as the instantaneous rate of change; apply the concepts of average and instantaneous rate of change (gradients of chords and tangents) in numerical, algebraic and graphical contexts (Higher tier only).
Foundation tier now includes previously Higher tier content:
- Using trigonometric ratios
- Calculating with and interpreting standard form (A x 10n), where 1 ≤ A < 10 and n is an integer
- Applying addition and subtraction of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a scalar, and diagrammatic and column representations of vectors
- Factorising quadratic expressions of the form x2 + bx + c, including the difference of two squares
- Using y = mx + c to work with straight lines on graphs.
There will be the opportunity for some pupils to also gain a GCSE qualification in Statistics and Further Maths.
Additional GCSEs
There will be the opportunity for some pupils to also gain a GCSE qualification in Statistics and Further Maths.
GCSE Statistics starts in year 10 and will be compulsory for all students in set 1 or 2. This content will be delivered during the standard 8 lessons of Mathematics that pupils receive a fortnight.
GCSE Further Maths is a voluntary qualification offered to pupils in the top sets starting in Year 11. This GCSE is ideal for any pupils considering A Level Mathematics as it bridges the gap between GCSE and A Level. Further Maths is taught for 1 hour after school every week.
Both qualifications are with AQA and the specifications for both can be found on the pages below:
Students are expected to supply the following equipment for every one of their Maths lessons:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Rubber
- Ruler
- Compass
- Protractor
- Scientific Calculator
We recommend as a department that pupils have a Casio Scientific calculator which can be purchased from the school bank for £10.00.
An image of the calculator is shown below:
Every pupil has access to a wonderful online resource called Hegarty Maths. This website has videos and assessments for pupils to use to improve in Maths. Every topic is broken down into different skills which are explained in depth during the video. There is then an attached assessment testing pupils on what the video covered. Pupils input their answers and their work is marked straight away. If they get the question wrong, they are given the chance to have another go. The website collects any incorrect answers and groups them into a category called “Fix Up 5”. This allows pupils to address past mistakes and make improvements.
As Hegarty Maths is an online website, pupils are required to do their workings in their books before submitting their answers. Below is an example of the level of work that is expected from pupils. As parents, we ask that you guide your children to follow the examples below when they are completing Hegarty tasks at home.
Click here to go to Hegarty Maths.
