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Mathematics

Curriculum Intent:

We aim to equip our students with the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary to help prepare them for life in an ever-changing world. Our goal is for students to be engaged and enthused in their mathematical learning and to understand its relevance to real-life contexts. We want our curriculum to provide challenge for all so that every student feels stretched and is required to think deeply about problems. Through our Mathematics teaching we encourage students to ‘join up’ their newly acquired and existing knowledge; this enables them to tackle problems via different approaches, using increasingly sophisticated techniques.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 the curriculum is divided into the strands of Number, Algebra, Geometry, Ratio and Proportion, Statistics and Probability. The aim is for students to:

  • Extend and build on the knowledge and skills acquired at Key Stage 2
  • Study a carefully sequenced curriculum to help them see the progression of topics across the years
  • Develop a flair for mathematics, approaching a problem from different perspectives is to be encouraged
  • Hone numeric and algebraic skills to aid their progression to Key Stage 4

Throughout Key Stage 3 students are encouraged to: question the mathematics they learn, to develop creativity in their approaches and to relish the opportunity to tackle increasingly complex problems.

Key Stage 4

As all students study Mathematics at Key Stage 4 we aim for them to understand the relevance of the content they study to both everyday life and for future study. The strands of the curriculum are the same as at Key Stage 3.

At Key Stage 4 students will:

  • Develop fluency with their knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical techniques and concepts
  • Acquire, select and accurately apply the techniques needed for problem solving
  • Be able to reason accurately using mathematical language
  • Infer and distill the important features of a problem
  • Understand, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms which are appropriate to the source material and context

Key Stage 5

At Key Stage 5 we offer both A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. In Mathematics all students now study both Mechanics and Statistics in the Applied element.

At A level our aims are to enable students to:

  • Construct and present mathematical arguments
  • Understand and use mathematical language and syntax
  • Comprehend and critique mathematical arguments, proofs and choice of methods
  • Recognise the underlying mathematical structure of a problem and select appropriate techniques to solve it
  • Understand, interpret and extract information from diagrams and construct diagrams to solve problems, especially in mechanics
  • Translate a situation into a mathematical model, showing an awareness of any limitations and assumptions

Where can Mathematics take me?

Mathematics is a highly esteemed academic discipline, it facilitates a vast range of degree subjects and is highly beneficial in many careers. Its problem-solving nature coupled with its demand for high levels of accuracy hones the skills of generalisation, selection of appropriate techniques and clear communication. Mathematicians are sought after in fields such as: accountancy, astronomy, banking, cryptography, gaming, medicine, meteorology, scientific research and technological development.

Mathematics Curriculum & Assessment Overview