Introduction

Students will be using and applying mathematics to solve problems. The main skills in use will be information processing, enquiry, creative thinking, reasoning and evaluation.

Key Concepts

The Mathematics programme of study provides opportunities for all students to have:

• Competence.
• Creativity.
• Ability to use the applications and implications of mathematics.
• Critical Understanding.

Key Processes

The key processes in Mathematics are the essentials skills that students need to learn to make progress, such as:

• Representing.
• Analysing.
• Interpreting and Evaluating.
• Communicating and Reflecting.

Programme of study

All students will be taught the following topics in 6 units throughout the year:

• Number and the number system 
• Place value, ordering and rounding. Integers, powers and roots. Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion. 
• Calculations  
• Number operations, mental, written and calculator methods and checking results.
• Algebra
• Equations, formulae and identities, sequences, functions and graphs.
• Shape space and measures 
• Geometrical reasoning, transformations, coordinates, construction, measures and mensuration.
• Handling Data 
• Specifying a problem, planning, collecting, processing and representing data. Interpreting and discussing results and probability.

Students will also be given a project each half term to use their acquired mathematical skills across the curriculum and provide them with opportunities to use the key processes in mathematics.

Setting arrangements and amount of curriculum time

There are seven teaching sets each with three lessons a week.  The year is split into higher, intermediate and foundation groups. The higher and intermediate sets broadly cover levels 4, 5 and 6 of the National Curriculum and the foundation sets broadly cover levels 3, 4 and 5.

Assessment

The students are assessed on their classwork, homework, project based activities as well frequent formal testing at the end of each unit. Students will be given self-assessment sheets to track their own progress with targets set by teachers for them to improve. They will also sit end of year examinations which involve two different tests; calculator and non-calculator. 

Numeracy Booster Sessions and one-to-one tuition are available to raise students National Curriculum levels. The number of pupils in these sessions is very small and the teacher’s aim is to enhance the students’ understanding of basic mathematical skills and to clarify any misconceptions.

Marking Criteria

Marks out of 10 for homework.
Percentages and levels are given for the block tests and end of year exams.

Homework

Homework is set twice a week.  This could be in the form of practicing skills learnt, research, investigation tasks or displaying knowledge acquired. Sometimes students will have to access the school and other websites for homework.

Curriculum Opportunities

There will be opportunities for cross-curricular links with other departments in the projects done each half term, such as:

• Geography
• Physical Education
• Travel & Tourism

Extra-Curricular opportunities

• Junior Maths Challenge
• Termly competitions
• Maths Club

Main texts/useful websites/info on VLE

The foundation, intermediate and higher sets use New National Framework textbooks and Key Maths textbooks. The higher set may use STP.
Students should be familiar with the BBC Bitesize website, as this is a good resource for revision.

www.bbc.co.uk/revision

Other useful sites include:

www.coombegirlsschool.org
www.algebrahelp.com
www.gomath.com
www.mymaths.co.uk
www.mathsrevision.net/gcse
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths
www.mathsguru.co.uk
www.mathsnet.net

Students will have an opportunity to do homework and research online.

Further Information

Students should be well equipped with a cartridge pen/biro, pencil, rubber, ruler, geometry set, and a calculator. These must be brought to every lesson. 

All students will be expected to present their work clearly showing their working out on all occasions. Showing working out is a very important part of mathematics and helps you to check your method and improve it when needed.