Maths

Head of Department: Mr Long

Teachers of Maths: Mr Long and Miss Miller

Aim

We aim to set challenging targets with high expectations of all of our students. To offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning to engage and motivate students and demand their active participation. To smooth the transition for students between Key Stages and ensure progression in teaching and learning throughout their time at Finch Woods. To explore enrichment opportunities outside the curriculum to enhance students’ enjoyment of mathematics. To ensure all students leave numerate and with a qualification in mathematics.

Intent

The intent of our Maths curriculum is to design a subject which is accessible to all, maximising the development of every child’s ability and achievement. We offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning to engage and motivate students, encouraging their active participation in Maths.

We provide students with techniques so that they can investigate and solve problems in Maths and other curricular areas. We aim to develop and extend a pupil’s ability to express themselves clearly, to reason logically and to be able to generalise. We want to build pupils confidence in their own ability and develop mathematical skills for their usefulness and applicability in the real world.

We want pupils to develop mathematical knowledge and oral, written and practical skills that encourage confidence and enjoyment. We utilise students’ interests and popular current events in the world to stimulate their learning. We set realistic yet challenging targets, with high expectations for all of our students. We want all students to leave Finch Woods with a Maths qualification which reflects the best of their ability.

Implementation

Students have full access to the Maths National Curriculum which is differentiated to meet students' learning needs and styles. The Maths Curriculum is designed to be challenging and appropriate to each pupil’s stage of development. The Maths Curriculum offers opportunities for cross-curricular learning, to ensure students make significant personal development.

We model and promote appropriate speaking and listening skills and encourage students to interact with one another in every lesson. We encourage focused questioning and discussion skills, improving students' reasoning and problem-solving skills.

We promote the use of calculators and other ICT resources appropriately and effectively to solve problems. The Maths Curriculum is designed to build and expand on previous skills and subject knowledge, over a 5-year period. It also plans for opportunities for repetition to embed knowledge, increasing the chance of information recall and to integrate new knowledge into larger ideas.

We offer a wide range of qualifications in Maths, which are selected to appropriately challenge, based on each pupil’s stage of development, including: Maths (GCSE), Maths (Entry Level), Maths Functional Skills (Level 1 and 2), Non-Qualification Maths Units for learners below Entry Level (AQA Unit Award Scheme).

Impact

Most students meet or exceed their end of year targets in Maths, leaving Finch Woods Academy with at least one formally recognised Maths qualification. Some students join mainstream colleges or do an apprenticeship where they study a range of different qualifications and subjects following progress from their starting points in Maths and following successful completion of the Maths GCSE, Entry Level or Functional Skills qualifications.  

Numeracy is embedded across the school and feeds into other subjects. Good progress in Maths has a significant benefit for students in other subjects. Functional skills and life-skills are embedded in the Maths curriculum and are personalised for each pupil. This supports students to make the step to post-16 provision and meets their needs when entering the world of work.

Programme of Study

Key Stage 3:

Our programme of study at Key Stage 3 continues to build on Key Stage 2 and allows students to follow a 3-year scheme of work, with the aim of deepening their understanding and confidence with the foundations of the mathematics curriculum. This learning is then reinforced with the provision of end of term exam style assessments.

Following each assessment, students will receive feedback on their performance detailing their successes and areas for development. Students will be timetabled one ICT lesson per fortnight, during which they will have an opportunity to develop their areas for improvement. We subscribe to MyMaths, a particularly inclusive resource that allows students to test their understanding on various topics to use if they need extra support.

Overview of topics covered in Year 7:

Overview of topics covered in Year 8:

Overview of topics covered in Year 9:

Key Stage 4:

Our programme of study at Key Stage 4 continues to build on Key Stage 3 and allows students to follow a 2-year scheme of work. GCSE Maths is covered over 2 years from year 10 to year 11.AQA is the examining body which we have worked with at GCSE for a number of years and feel will work best for our students. In year 10, students start the GCSE syllabus and follow different routes. Students who have accessed the key stage 3 curriculum well start to study objectives from the Foundation syllabus.

Students who are not ready to access the full range of topics from the Foundation syllabus and are not confident on their basic mathematics skills will start to study a mastery curriculum where they will attempt to master objectives from each GCSE grade starting from Grade 1 and working upwards. Students who find the mathematics curriculum the most challenging start to study towards the entry level certificate from level 1 up to level 3. This provides students with a mathematics qualification whilst also building confidence to work towards accessing the GCSE syllabus.

AQA Exam Board Link:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/specification-at-a-glance

 Overview of topics covered in Year 10:

 Overview of topics covered in Year 11:

Exam Information:

The examinations are taken at the end of year 11 and will consist of 3 question papers. Students must take the three question papers at the same tier. There is a mix of question styles, from short, single-mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper.

Useful website:

https://corbettmaths.com/

Curriculum Overview 

For a more detailed look at what we aim to cover within the Maths Curriculum this year:

Maths Curriculum