Mathematics
Empowering Minds Through Mathematical Proficiency.
Head of Department: Ms N. Poynter
Our curriculum for mathematics ensures that all students can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Our ambitious, accessible and relevant curriculum explores mathematical concepts to create confident pupils who are fluent in mathematical skills, logical thinking and problem solving. Our aim is that pupils become numerically competent and resilient enough to go on and apply these skills outside the classroom. Students will develop a sense of mathematical potency in application to realistic situations and aspire to continue mathematical development beyond school.
Pupils will follow a spiral curriculum that builds upon the knowledge they have gained each year. The format of the curriculum allows pupils to revisit the key strands: algebra, statistics, number, probability and geometry at staggered intervals, meaning pupils are more able to retain their mathematical knowledge and better prepare them for their GCSE exams.
CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS (MATHEMATICS)
Key Learning Objectives
We offer a five year programme of learning where pupils are challenged to think critically about each skill they learn. We aim to increase pupils’ love for mathematics, by introducing content in small steps to increase pupils’ understanding and success.
Students in Key Stage 3 (Year 7 and 8) explore all areas of mathematics. Students build on their number skills, allowing them to be fluent in their use of fractions and decimals, as well as integers with the four operations, and students begin to explore other forms of number involving standard form and index form. Within algebra, students have the opportunity to become confident with algebraic manipulation and solving equations. There is an increased focus on multiplicative reasoning and how this links with ratio and proportion, as well as reiterating properties of shapes and the key facts involving angles.
Our GCSE curriculum (Year 9, 10 and 11) builds on the key foundations from Key Stage 3. In number concepts for example, students are expected to calculate with different forms such as standard form. In algebra, pupils look at quadratic equations and make links with graphs when solving equations. Ratio and proportion is linked with geometry when trigonometry is introduced, and looking at statistical analysis builds on pupils’ knowledge of the data handling cycle.
Maths in Year 7
Nurturing students’ confidence is vital to their success and enjoyment in Maths. In Year 7 we focus on fluency, problem solving and reasoning and we have a differentiated unit structure to help build confidence in maths. Homework provides plenty of practice on every topic to make sure students have the opportunity to progress.
Each unit is organised as follows:
- Students are helped to master fundamental knowledge and skills over a series of lessons.
- Before moving on with the rest of the unit, they often check their understanding via a learning snapshot. Any areas of concern are addressed in class and green pen corrected.
- Students do a half termly test based on the topics covered that half term to determine the progress made and to highlight to pupils are areas they need to develop.
The following units are covered:
| Sets 1 & 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 |
| Unit 1: Analysing and displaying data | Unit 1: Analysing and displaying data | Unit 1: Analysing and displaying data |
| Unit 2: Number skills | Unit 2: Number skills | Unit 2: Calculating |
| Unit 3: Equations, functions and formulae | Unit 3: Expressions, functions and formulae | Unit 3: Expressions, functions and formulae |
| Unit 4: Fractions | Unit 4: Decimals and measures | Unit 4: Graphs |
| Unit 5: Angles and shapes | Unit 5: Fractions | Unit 5: Factors and multiples |
| Unit 6: Decimals | Unit 6: Probability | Unit 6: Decimals and measures |
| Unit 7: Equations | Unit 7: Ratio and proportion | Unit 7: Angles and lines |
| Unit 8: Multiplicative reasoning | Unit 8: Lines and angles | Unit 8: Measuring and shapes |
| Unit 9: Perimeter, area and volume | Unit 9: Sequences and graphs | Unit 9: Fractions, decimals and percentages |
| Unit 10: Sequences and graphs | Unit 10: Transformations | Unit 10: Transformations |
Set 1 students participate in the Junior Maths Challenge, a national competition, where they have the opportunity to impress with their problem solving strategies, obtain certificates for achievement and potentially compete in team challenges against other schools.
There is Year 7 Maths club that is open to all students, and runs from 3.10pm until 3:50pm. Assistance is offered by a maths teacher with all aspects of mathematics, including homework.
Students have access to MathsWatch and Sparx to assist with their independent learning. Homework is set on Sparx weekly, pupils can watch videos to get extra support with questions of speak to their maths teachers.
How can parents help?
- Make sure to buy a scientific calculator and a geometry set.
- Optionally buy a KS3 revision guide
- Ask your child if they have completed their maths homework. Check the homework timetables and your daughter's planner.
- Find extra revision here: Sparx- Independent learning
Recommended Websites:
www.sparxmaths.co.uk
https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk
www.drfrostmaths.com
www.corbettmaths.com
Maths in Year 8
Study Topics Covered:
In Year 8, we continue to nurture students’ confidence, which is vital to their success and enjoyment in mathematics. The focus remains on fluency, problem solving and reasoning and we have the same differentiated unit structure we have in Year 7, to help build confidence in maths. Homework provides plenty of practice on every topic to make sure students have every opportunity to progress. The units are organised in the same way as they were in Year 7:
- Students are helped to master fundamental knowledge and skills over a series of lessons.
- Before moving on with the rest of the unit, they often check their understanding via a learning snapshot. Any areas of concern are addressed in class and green pen corrected.
- Students do a half termly test based on the topics covered that half term to determine the progress made and to highlight to pupils are areas they need to develop.
The following units are covered:
| Sets 1 & 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 |
| Unit 1: Factors and powers | Unit 1: Number | Unit 1: Number properties and calculations |
| Unit 2: Working with powers | Unit 2: Area and volume | Unit 2: Shapes and measures in 3D |
| Unit 3: 2D shapes and 3D solids | Unit 3: Statistics, graphs and charts | Unit 3: Statistics |
| Unit 4: Real-life graphs | Unit 4: Expressions and equations | Unit 4: Expressions and equations |
| Unit 5: Transformations | Unit 5: Real-life graphs | Unit 5: Decimals calculations |
| Unit 6: Fractions, decimals and percentages | Unit 6: Decimals and ratio | Unit 6: Angles |
| Unit 7: Constructions and loci | Unit 7: Lines and angles | Unit 7: Number properties |
| Unit 8: Probability | Unit 8: Calculating with fractions | Unit 8: Sequences |
| Unit 9: Scale drawings and measurements | Unit 9: Straight-line graphs | Unit 9: Fractions and percentages |
| Unit 10: Graphs | Unit 10: Percentages, decimals and fractions | Unit 10: Probability |
Set 1 students participate in the Junior Maths Challenge, a national competition, where they have the opportunity to impress with their problem solving strategies, obtain certificates for achievement and potentially compete in team challenges against other schools.
There is Year 8 Maths club that is open to all students, and runs from 3.10pm until 3:50pm. Assistance is offered by a maths teacher with all aspects of mathematics, including homework.
Students have access to MathsWatch and Sparx to assist with their independent learning. Homework is set on Sparx weekly, pupils can watch videos to get extra support with questions of speak to their maths teachers.
How can parents help?
- Make sure to buy a scientific calculator and a geometry set.
- Optionally buy a KS3 revision guide
- Ask your child if they have completed their maths homework. Check the homework timetables and your daughter's planner.
- Find extra revision here: Sparx- Independent learning
Recommended Websites:
www.drfrostmaths.com
www.corbettmaths.com
Maths in Year 9
Why is maths at GCSE so important?
Not only does maths underlie every process and pattern that occurs in the world around us, but having a good understanding of it will help you enormously in everyday life. Being quick at mental arithmetic will save you money in the supermarket and knowledge of statistics will help you see through television adverts or newspaper articles, and to understand the torrent of information you hear about the world around you.
The most fundamental skill that mathematics will equip you with is to be able to learn: to be able to build up an understanding from basic principles (for example, starting from shapes, triangles and angles), to build upon existing knowledge to develop general concepts (Pythagoras' theorem, trigonometry), and then to apply this general concept to specific examples (solving specific geometric problems using the techniques of trigonometry). You will learn to think logically, to ask questions, and to do thorough and rigorous investigations to answer them.
These general skills will be useful, no matter what you want to do in the future as problem solving is a highly transferrable skill. All students aspiring to go to university need to achieve at least a Grade 4 at GCSE (with some prestigious universities asking for a grade 5 in maths).
If you are thinking of continuing maths at Sixth Form, you need to be aware that a grade 7-9 at Higher tier GCSE, is needed to follow the A Level course here at Gumley.
In Year 9, pupils begin a three year course of study, based on the Pearson Edexcel 1MA1 GCSE (9–1) in Mathematics.
Assessments will cover the following content headings:
- Number
- Algebra
- Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change
- Geometry and Measures
- Statistics and Probability
GCSE assessments will follow the guidelines below
- Two tiers are available: Foundation and Higher.
- The qualification consists of three equally-weighted written examination papers.
- Paper 1 is a non-calculator assessment and a calculator is allowed for Paper 2 and Paper 3.
- Each paper is 1 hour and 30 minutes long.
- Each paper has 80 marks.
- The content outlined for each tier will be assessed across all three papers.
- Each paper will cover all Assessment Objectives.
- Each paper has a range of question types; some questions will be set in both mathematical and non-mathematical contexts.
- The qualification will be graded and certificated on a nine-grade scale from 9 to 1 using the total mark across all three papers where 9 is the highest grade.
- Foundation tier: grades 1 to 5.
- Higher tier: grades 4 to 9.
If your child is in sets 1 and 2 they will be following the higher course, and if they are in sets 3 and 4 they will be following the foundation course. There are however multiple opportunities to move up a set over the 3 year course.
In year 9, foundation students work on core number and algebra skills including algebraic manipulation, solving linear equations, negative numbers and fractions, decimals and percentages. Higher students will develop their number and algebra skills by looking at surds and quadratic equations. They will also be introduced to core concepts such as trigonometry and Pythagoras.
Regular assessments and feedback is given via their completed gap analysis. They can use this to work independently on topics they have found challenging.
What resources are available to use?
A wealth of resources including past papers, solutions and revision topic lists are available. You have access to and are encouraged to use www.sparxmaths.co.uk and www.mathswatch.com.
What extracurricular activities will be available?
Top set students are entered for the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge and have the opportunity to receive a certificate or even enter the next round if they do well. Various trips are organised for top performing students. For support there is Yr 9 Maths Club that runs at lunch time on Tuesdays.
How can parents help?
- Make sure to buy a scientific calculator and a geometry set.
- Optionally buy a KS4 CGP Edexcel revision guide/workbook.
- Ask your child if they have completed their maths homework. Check the homework timetables and your daughter's planner.
- Find extra revision here: Sparx- Independent learning
Recommended Websites:
www.drfrostmaths.com
www.corbettmaths.com
www.mathsgenie.co.uk
Maths in Year 10 and 11
In Year 10 and 11 pupils will continue to complete the GCSE course they started in Year 9.
In year 10 , foundation students will develop their geometry skills by looking at perimeter, area and volume, transformations and Pythagoras and trigonometry. Higher students will build upon their algebra skills by looking at the applications to linear and quadratic graphs. They will also further explore trigonometry in depth and look at the graphical representations.
In year 11 , foundation students will focus on grade 5 topics such as quadratic equations, indices and area and volume of challenging 3D shapes. Higher students will explore grade 8-9 topics such as circle theorems, functions, vectors and velocity time graphs.
Regular assessments and feedback is given via their completed gap analysis. They can use this to work independently on topics they have found challenging.
What extracurricular activities will be available?
Top set students are entered for the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge and have the opportunity to receive a certificate or even enter the next round if they do well. Various trips are organised for top performing students. For support there is Yr 10 Maths Club that runs at lunch time on Tuesdays and Yr 11 Maths Club that runs after school on a Tuesday. Some Year 11s are also selected to participate in our Yr 11 and 12 mentoring scheme whereby they get maths support from an A-Level mathematician in Year 12.
How can parents help?
- Make sure to buy a scientific calculator and a geometry set.
- Optionally buy a KS4 CGP Edexcel revision guide/workbook.
- Ask your child if they have completed their maths homework. Check the homework timetables and your daughter's planner.
- Find extra revision here: Sparx- Independent learning
Recommended Websites:
www.drfrostmaths.com
www.corbettmaths.com
www.mathsgenie.co.uk
Maths (and Further Maths) at A level
Please visit our dedicated A Level pages for course information.
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. Taking maths at A-level often means that you will be given preference for entry onto university courses over those that have not taken it (even if the course is unrelated to maths). Due to the rigorous and challenging nature of the course it is a highly respected A-level.