Maths Department

The Mathematics Department has very high expectations for all of our students. We want to create an environment where students can develop their potential, and encouraging positive achievement. We endeavour to revise and build upon the students’ mathematical skills and concepts experienced in Primary School. Students are also shown the relevance and importance of Mathematics to the real world and the impact it has.
As a department we want to foster a positive attitude towards maths and its applications.  We aim to provide students with the knowledge of how to use and apply maths, and its potential to enrich the wider aspects of their education. We plan to encourage and promote problem solving skills and techniques at all levels and across the range of mathematical topics, as well as encouraging students to recognise mathematical experiences in other curricular areas.

About the Department

The Mathematics Department has 6 specialist Maths teachers. We also have support from the Special Educational Needs department with a lead Teaching Assistant dedicated to the Mathematics Department. The Teaching Assistants work with the teachers to support and raise pupils’ level of achievement.  All staff in the Maths Department are professional, enthusiastic and dedicated to raising the achievement and attainment of all of our pupils. 

Key Stage 3

The Secondary Mathematics Framework is followed throughout Key Stage 3, and we are currently completing this at the end of year 8. In year 7 teaching groups experience five 50 minutes maths lessons per week and in year 8 and 9 teaching groups have four 50 minute maths lessons per week.  Pupils in year 7 are quickly arranged into ability groups based on their SAT result in maths from KS2. Students are assessed every half term. Pupils have the opportunity to move between sets at any time if the class teacher considers such movement to be in their best interests. We track all pupils’ progress throughout the Key Stage and have intervention plans in place to ensure all pupils achieve. 

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, teaching groups experience five 50 minute lessons per week in both year 10 and in year 11. The students are arranged into ability groups across the whole year. We follow either the modular or linear Edexcel syllabus for pupils, depending on which suits their needs best. We have a fast track group of gifted and talented year 10’s who do early entry GSCE followed by AS Level maths in year 11. This year we have at present twenty three students studying C1 and C2.  We also offer a second GCSE in Mathematics for higher ability pupils, which is the GCSE Statistics qualification. Our results for KS4 this year was 65% A*-C for maths, and we work very hard to maintain and improve on this through a rigorous tracking system and intervention policy.

Extra Curricular

A mathematics G&T club and after school classes are run to consolidate and extend the students’ learning, as well as prepare them for up-coming exams. Gifted and talented students in years 7 and 8 also participate in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge, and G&T students in years 9, 10 and 11 participate in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. The top 40% of students nationally receive a gold, silver or bronze certificate in the ratio 1:2:3 and each school receives a Best in School certificate.