Maths

This curriculum area is staffed by:

• Mike Rabey – Team Leader
• Paula Cockle – Deputy Team Leader responsible for KS3
• Wendy Vincent – responsible for primary liaison and ‘Learning to Learn’ initiative.
• Annie Wills – responsible for Initial Teacher Training
• Julia Heywood
• Ian Robinson
• Clare Beech – part time
• Jane Thomas – Senior Assistant Headteacher
• Brian Martin – Senior Assistant Headteacher
• Steve Harris – SENCO

The long-term aims of the Faculty are as follows:

• To develop, maintain and stimulate students' curiosity, interest and enjoyment in mathematics.
• To develop students' familiarity with appropriate mathematical concepts, principles, methods and vocabulary.
• To develop students' understanding of mathematics in its widest context and to see how it relates to themselves outside school.
• To enable students to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as safety awareness, politeness, perseverance, concern for others, initiative and independence.
• To enable independent and group work for all students.
• To enable all students to have equal access to mathematics and to experience success in their work.
• To allow students to develop transferable skills and informed opinions about their mathematics and to be able to support them by reasonable arguments.
• To continue to build links with partner primary schools promoting continuity and progression between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.
• To see recognition of our success by improved examination results.

In both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students receive 3 hours of Mathematics teaching per week. Additionally, an Express Group in KS4 completes A/S Decision & Discrete and GCSE Statistics. Most students receive two homeworks per week.

All students are taught in sets. Year 7 setting arrangements begin early in the Autumn term. Groupings are based on students’ prior attainment with particular regard to Key Stage 2 and 3 data. Setting is flexible and set moves are discussed each half term, following testing, to ensure correct provision. We provide targeted intervention to small groups in years 7, 8, 9 and 11 for those not progressing as expected or just needing a boost.

Each student requires the following equipment:

• Pen (blue or black only)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Rubber
• Pencil sharpener
• Angle measurer
• Compasses
• Scientific calculator

All equipment can be purchased from the department at excellent prices: e.g. Scientific calculators can be provided for about £4.

KEY STAGE 3 Year 7-9 Maths at Key Stage 3 is taught through four main areas of study: number, algebra, shape, space and measure; and handling data. Topics within each area of study are revisited several times each year in greater degrees of complexity. Each topic is delivered in a way that highlights connections between topics and investigative tasks provide opportunities for students to apply what they know in unfamiliar contexts

GCSE MATHS Year 10-11 Most students follow the AQA GCSE Linear course. The exception to this is the Green Pathway where students follow the AQA GCSE Modular course. The full syllabus for each course can be found at http://www.aqa.org.uk The GCSE Mathematics course requires studying number, algebra, shape, space, measures and data handling. The student is assessed as below:

Assessment Objectives	Written Papers
Number and algebra	50-55%
Shape, space and measures	25-30%
Handling data	18-22%
Overall weighting of Units	100%

There are two tiers of assessment, Foundation (C – G) and Higher (A*-D)

Linear Course
	Paper 1
Written Paper (Non-calculator) Foundation Tier Higher Tier		50% of total marks 1 hour 30 minutes 2 hours
	Paper 2
Written Paper (Calculator) Foundation Tier Higher Tier		50% of total marks 1 hour 30 minutes 2 hours

Modular Course
	Module 1
Written Paper	18% of total assessment
2 x 30 minutes (Both tiers)
Section A . Calculator Section B . Non-calculator
	Module 3
Written Paper	27% of total assessment
2 x 45 minutes (Both tiers)
Section A . Calculator Section B . Non-calculator
	Module 5
Written Paper	55% of total assessment
Paper 1 Non-calculator Foundation Tier Higher Tier		1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour 15 minutes
Paper 2 Calculator Foundation Tier Higher Tier		1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour 15 minutes

WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY QUALIFICATIONS IN MATHEMATICS?

Mathematics GCSE will equip you with many of the numeracy and thinking skills that will assist you in your future career path. Employers and colleges will wish to know what you achieved in your mathematics.

Mathematics GCSE is a pre-requisite to many Higher Education courses. A grade “B” or above is usually required to enrol on an “A” level mathematics course and a grade “C” or above is required for many other courses.

A mathematics GCSE may enable you to enter a career in business, tourism, nursing, engineering, accountancy, insurance, the armed forces, the police service and many other fields. Analysis has shown a direct relationship between grade gained at GCSE maths and salary earned.