Mathematics

Curriculum

In the Mathematics Department we aim to provide a stimulating and enjoyable environment for all our students by using a variety of teaching and learning styles for all year groups.

All students in Key Stage 3 and Year 11 undertake seven lessons over a two week period.  Students are encouraged to develop their mathematical thinking so that they are able to use and apply their mathematical thinking skills. This means that they will be able to use and apply their mathematical in a variety of contexts. We give students the opportunity to develop the ability to:

  • Acquire and use problem-solving strategies
  • Select and apply mathematical techniques and methods in mathematical, every day and real-world situations
  • Reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions
  • Interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context.

KS3

Years 7 & 8

In Years 7 and 8, students follow a modular format with an assessment at the end of each unit. These units are in Number, Algebra, Geometry and Measure, Handling Data and Ratio and Proportion. Each unit takes approximately 7 weeks. This format enables students to study each area of mathematics in depth to help consolidate all knowledge.  There is an additional end of year exam in each year which assesses all the content covered during the year.

Students follow the National Curriculum and begin Year 7 being taught in sets according to their KS2 levels and CATS data, so they are studying at a level that suits them. Set changes can occur at any time throughout Key Stage 3, but usually take place after each unit assessment. Students follow their personalised learning journeys based on prior attainment from KS2, CATS scores and mapped to expected outcomes at GCSE.

Year 9

Students complete the final year of the Key stage 3 National curriculum.  The topics covered in year 9 are built upon the skills obtained in years 7 and 8 to allow the higher level topics of the national curriculum that are required to be covered.  These include standard form, Pythagoras, proportion and similarity.  Topic assessments are completed throughout the year on the content covered.

These topics also provide the core skills required for the GCSE course and allow key GCSE topics to be introduced.  This enables students to become familiar with these areas of mathematics earlier in their Mathematical studies as well as provide an opportunity for students to see how previous years content is used and applied to these newly encountered topics.

KS4 – Years 10 & 11

Students are taught in classes based on their progress and attainment at Key Stage 3. The evidence from assessments, teacher attainment and GCSE targets are used to determine the tier of study that the students commence with in Year 10

Our exam board for GCSE Maths 9-1 is Edexcel (1MA1).  The higher Tier assesses grades 9-4, whilst the Foundation tier assesses grades 5-1. We teach a 2-year GCSE linear program which we start at the beginning of Year 10.

In Year 10, we also complete all 3 stages of the entry level Maths qualification with students who require numeracy support to access the foundation GCSE course.  This qualification is run alongside the covering of the GCSE syllabus as the content of both courses overlaps.

In Year 11, Set 1 students are also taught the Edexcel Level 3 Algebra Award. This is to develop their mathematical skills and assist in bridging the gap between the GCSE and A level syllabus. All students will sit their GCSE Mathematics examination in June of Year 11.

There are three examination papers each counting for 33.3% of the final mark. Each paper is out of 80 marks.

Tier Duration Weighting
Foundation Tier Paper 1 Non- Calculator 1 hour 30 Minutes 33.3%
Foundation Tier Paper 2 Calculator 1 hour 30 Minutes 33.3%
Foundation Tier Paper 3 Calculator 1 hour 30 Minutes 33.3%
Higher Tier Paper 1 Non- Calculator 1 hour 30 Minutes 33.3%
Higher Tier Paper 2 Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes 33.3%
Higher Tier Paper 3 Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes 33.3%

KS5

At Key Stage 5 we follow the OCR (MEI) syllabus which is a two year linear course. We offer Mathematics and Further Mathematics at A Level.   These courses are academically challenging and prepare students well for studying mathematics, engineering and other related courses, at university.

Both mechanics and statistics must be must be assessed under the new specification for A-Level Mathematics.

Tier Topics Duration Marks Weighting
Paper 1 Pure Mathematics – proof, algebra and functions, co-ordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, vectors.

 

Mechanics – quantities and units, kinematics, forces and Newton’s laws, moments.

 

 2 hours 100 36.4%
Paper 2 Pure Mathematics – proof, algebra and functions, co-ordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, numerical methods.

Statistics – sampling, data presentation and interpretation, probability, statistical distributions, statistical hypothesis testing.

 2 hours 100 36.4%
Paper 3 Pure Mathematics – proof, algebra and functions, co-ordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, numerical methods. 2 hours 75 27.2%

Core Mathematics (Mathematical Studies)

This new level 3 qualification was introduced for first teaching in September 2014. It is distinct from A Level mathematics and it should fit alongside a student’s main 16-18 programme. It is designed to be taken over two years and is half the size of an A level.

Why study Core Maths?

The ‘Core Maths’ qualification is designed to better prepare students for the mathematical demands of study, employment and life. It will develop students’ ability to think mathematically, logically and analytically and will build skills in applying maths to new problems and issues. The Core Maths initiative is a major part of the government’s plan to increase participation and raise standards in mathematics. The course has been developed with employers, universities and professional bodies as valuable preparation for university study and employment. Core Maths will maintain and develop students’ real-life mathematical skills. The study is not purely theoretical or abstract; it can be applied on a day-to-day basis in work, study or life and includes a financial mathematics element. Studying Core Maths will also support other A-Level subjects – in particular with science, geography, business studies, psychology and economics.

Course Details:

The AQA specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills you will have acquired studying GCSE mathematics with a sharper focus on problem solving skills by considering and tackling mathematics in meaningful contexts. The core areas studied are financial applications of mathematics, critical analysis of data and estimation as well as the optional units including further statistical techniques, critical path and risk analysis and graphical techniques. All of which can support work in other subjects including economics, psychology, biology and geography.

Subject Content:

Paper 1 – Compulsory Content
· Analysis of data
· Maths for personal finance
· Estimation
· Critical analysis of given data and models (including spreadsheets and tabular data)

Paper 2 – Optional Content
· The normal distribution
· Probabilities and estimation
· Correlation and regression

OR

· Critical path analysis
· Expectation and cost benefit analysis

OR

· Graphical methods
· Rates of change
· Exponential functions

Enrichment

Annual Events

  • Senior Maths Challenge(Years 12 & 13)
  • Senior Team Maths Challenge
  • Intermediate Maths Challenge (Set one students from Years 9, 10 & 11)
  • Junior Maths Challenge (Set one students from Years 7 & 8)
  • Hertfordshire County Team Maths Challenges for Years 7 & 8
  • Hertfordshire Further Maths Network – Enrichment Day for Year 10

Careers

Good qualifications and an interest in Mathematics can open doorways into many interesting and valued job opportunities:

Staff

The Mathematics Department consists of ten committed specialists whose aim is for all students to enjoy the subject and achieve their full potential.

  • Mrs Freya Parsons – Head of Department
  • Ms Sarah Jones – 2nd in Department
  • Ms Jane Burt – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Mr Atof Blaal – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Mr Francois Coetzee – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Mr Alex Greenwood – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Mrs Helen Hardwick – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Dr Carolyn Kisby – Teacher of Mathematics
  • Mrs Fiona Roser – Teacher of Mathematics; Assistant Headteacher Teaching & Learning
  • Miss Sam Walker – Teacher of Mathematics; Assistant Head of Year 11
  • Mrs Susan Rabel – Teacher of Mathematics

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