Mathematics
What is our curriculum intention and purpose?
The Mathematics curriculum is broad and ambitious, constructed to ensure that all students have the mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills to fulfil their hopes and dreams in the world beyond. Our Vision is to equip students with mathematical skills to:
- Think Logically
- Determine Patterns
- Solve Problems
- Apply Skills to new situations
- Communicate workings to support conclusions
What is our learning journey?
The aim of the Mathematics curriculum is to develop students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of the following mathematical concepts:
- Number
- Ratio and Proportion
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Statistics
- Probability.
Students will develop skills to use within Mathematics and across related subjects to reason mathematically making deductions, inferences and conclusions in order to solve increasingly complex problems.
It is important that pupils develop both conceptual understanding, the ability to recall and apply knowledge in new problem solving situations that increasingly link topics together. The Mathematics curriculum at Bradfield School provides a platform for learners to understand the essential maths for their futures and to inspire their curiosity and enjoyment of the subject to motivate study at higher levels. Bradfield students develop the skills to be resilient learners, able to overcome problems and apply their knowledge in varied ways.
How is the curriculum sequenced?
We have a curriculum rooted in academic excellence and ambition. It is a 5 year spiral curriculum which builds on the key concepts and skills which learners need to develop between years 7 to year 11. The foundations will be developed at KS3, taking their prior learning from KS2 into full account and at each subsequent stage picking up their existing knowledge and elevating it to the next level. An example for this is that early on in year 7 we learn how to multiply and divide with fractions. Later in year 8 this knowledge is required in topics such as probability and into year 9 with the topic of straight line graphs.
The most able students in Year 10 and 11 study AQA Level 2 Further Maths in addition to the GCSE Qualification. This is examined in Year 11.
What will my child experience in a typical mathematics lesson?
Over the course of the curriculum delivery, a focus on retrieval is prevalent. The teacher starts each lesson with a Silent Do Now task to review relevant prior knowledge, to activate schemata ready to build new knowledge into long term learning.
Relevant Prior learning is identified in resources that are shared on the Student SharePoint area. This is assessed and ensured to be secure before delivery of new content. This activity prepares students for the key skills and knowledge required for their current learning and ensure that students are continuously revisiting material from earlier in their journey.
Small amounts of new knowledge are presented at a time with the opportunity for students to then practice this new material, direct modelling supports students to see accurate mathematical structure and form.
Questioning is used to help students develop links between prior learning and new content.
Students use whiteboards to practice and develop clear written workings. Extended tasks are completed in exercise books, provided by a mixture of short tasks, text book exercises and exam questions. Staff encourage students to reflect of their own work and that of others to learn and develop their skills. Students are given opportunities for extensive, successful, independent practice and are frequently given opportunity to reflect on the accuracy of their own work and given time to engage with improvements and reflect on their success with outcomes. A weekly homework is set using the Dr Frost Learning platform provides the opportunity for students to attempt exam questions related to content covered in class. Staff feedback from this work on a regular basis to support learners.
How do we assess progress?
Our assessment plan offers plenty of opportunity for retrieval practice and assessment of long term learning. It is designed to assess student’s capabilities in newly acquired knowledge whilst promoting their retention and recall of knowledge overtime.
Key assessments over each term test student’s knowledge and understanding of the newly acquired material whilst the interleaving of the end of term assessments truly test student’s acquisition of knowledge over time. Assessments offer students the opportunity to assess where they are at with a key focus to what areas require improvements. Question level analysis and feedback allows for bespoke and well informed next steps for improvement.
Progress and attainment data is collected two times a year from the exams sat, these assessments take into consideration all learning to date, interleaving the learning that has taken place. Learners take part in regular knowledge drills in class. These tasks assess knowledge learnt overtime and consolidate required knowledge for the current topic.
Students receive feedback from assessments to help them make good progress. Feedback can take the form verbal feedback, “Live marking” in the classroom where students have opportunity to correct and improve their work in the moment as well as whole class feedback and question level targeted analysis. Question level analysis from homework on the Dr Frost learning platform is used to identify areas of weakness. Staff can use this to provide targeted intervention in class and at home. Students can also work on “Next steps” identified by errors in homework tasks.
How do we extend and enrich our curriculum?
A calendar for enrichment in Maths is being continually defined and improved and it is our vision that all year groups will have meaningful enrichment in the subject outside of their normal classroom lessons.
Weekly homework is designed to support understanding of key concepts and is issued to all students through their Satchel One account. This uses the Dr Frost Learning platform.
Bradfield school offer support to all students with their studies in Maths Clinic after school on a Wednesday from 3pm until 4pm.
What higher education and career opportunities can this subject lead to?
Maths can lead on to further study at A-Level and degree level in the subject as well as Economics. Maths underpins any role and career but has strong links to the following careers:
- Software engineer
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Chartered accountant
- Investment analyst
- Research scientist (maths)
- Sound engineer
- Statistician
- Astronomer
- All Engineering disciplines
How can I support my child in mathematics?
How can I support my child in Maths? Equipment: We ask that all students have the correct equipment in lessons and at home including a good scientific calculator. We recommend all students have this equipment: Pen, Pencil, 30cm ruler, compasses, protractor, Calculator: Casio fx-83GT CW or similar Homework and independent study: The Dr Frost Learning platform is used to set a weekly homework. In addition to this, students are automatically allocated “Next Steps” activities based on prior submissions. These tasks have a help video and offer feedback using exam mark schemes on completion of each question. Maths Clinic: The Maths department offer Maths support after school on a Wednesday from 3pm – 4pm in the Maths department. This is available to all students.
Key Stage 3
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
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| Year 9 Foundation | Year 9 Higher |
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Key Stage 4: Higher and Further Maths
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Key Stage 4: Higher
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Key Stage 4: Foundation
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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