Curriculum Content Curriculum Intent Statement

It is the Mathematics department’s core belief that every learner should leave De Aston with the ability to engage in the basic numerical and mathematical tasks that real-life will demand of them. Our aim is to provide learners with the skills to access their GCSE examinations in Year 11 with confidence so that they can achieve one of the key qualifications needed to progress to their next stage of education or training.

Learners will have the opportunity to engage in topics that will apply directly to the world around them and will be essential in later life, such as dealing with percentages and ratios, estimation, probability and statistics. Learners will also have the opportunity to challenge themselves with more abstract areas of mathematics that will prove useful in other subjects at GCSE level and beyond, such as algebra, geometry and graphing methods.

In Years 7 to 11 we run a “mastery” scheme of work which is designed to allow students a prolonged period of time covering a single topic in depth. There is a termly plan for each year group with a common theme in each half term. These terms are further split into blocks that ensure students spend enough time to get an understanding of each topic being covered. The scheme we broadly follow is White Rose Maths which has been designed with interleaving (revisiting topics within new contexts) as a key element.

In Year 7 students are taught in mixed ability groups and then more formally set in Years 8 and 9; this allows teachers to engage students at a pace that best suits the student. We also recognise that students enter secondary school with a very wide range of prior attainment. Our scheme is designed so that all students following the main content will have covered all of the GCSE Foundation tier by the end of Year 11 and therefore will have access to a grade 5. Students who have also covered additional Higher content will have access to a grade 9.

Beyond Year 11 we encourage learners to study Mathematics in order to further enhance their understanding of mathematics in the world around them and to also support other subjects they may study. Learners have the opportunity to study A Level Mathematics, and depending on the cohort AS Further Mathematics or Core Mathematics. All of these courses are highly regarded Level 3 qualifications relevant in different ways depending on the learner’s future career path.

The Mathematics department aims to provide learners with a variety of in-class tasks and homework to challenge their understanding of the course content. We also aim to encourage critical thinking and interest in the subject beyond the constraints of the curriculum, after all, mathematics is a vast and interesting subject!

We expect learners to make mistakes. Experiencing them, reflecting on them and learning from them are the hallmarks of a good mathematician. Please contact Head of Department Mrs S Sharples for further information.

We aim to have some spare equipment on hand, but cannot always guarantee a full stock. It is requested that learners come equipped with the following equipment in addition to the standard learning tools needed across the school:

• Ruler
• Protractor
• Compass
• Calculator (Casio FX-83/85 or Aurora AX-595 are used in school)

We have a stock of school calculators; however, we strongly urge students to have their own. Having access to their own calculator is particularly useful, especially if they are using them for homework, it is not advised that learners use mobile phone calculators if possible. Stationary packs and Aurora calculators can be purchased through the school using ParentPay.

To support learners, we run extra sessions in school. We run lunch and after school revision sessions to support students as they head into their exams.

To challenge learners we enter into the UKMT Mathematics team challenges for all age groups. We also provide the opportunity for learners to challenge themselves individually in the UKMT Mathematics individual challenges.

There are a variety of additional trips that we offer to students to both challenge their understanding and engage interest in the subject, depending on availability. Previous trips have seen the department venturing out to Bletchley Park and the take in lectures at University of Warwick, University of Lincoln and Oxford University.

Learners and parents should also follow the department on Instagram where they can keep up-to-date with things going on in school and important departmental announcements, just follow us @deastonmaths.