Mathematics
Making Mathematics Memorable. Ensuring all staff and students achieve as highly as possible by being an excellent department with high standards and expectations which seeks the realisation of each and every student’s full potential. We aim to enable students to acquire mathematical concepts, skills and knowledge with enjoyment.
learning journey maths 2023.pdf
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8)
We believe that excellent teaching of Mathematics at Key stage 3 is the foundation in developing highly motivated students who then go on to achieve their potential at later stages of their Mathematics learning. This is what we aim to achieve with our challenging but well supported curriculum which includes a variety of tasks that help pupils master the key concepts for future study as well as developing their problem solving and thinking skills.
When students come into Year 7, we place the majority of those students in mixed ability classes all learning from the same scheme of work. Some students, using KS2 data, are put into a lower ability group which has a smaller class size where additional support is given to them by the teacher and our Higher Learning Teaching Assistants. We regularly monitor the performance of all students through the use of data from internal tests as well as teacher assessments to ensure pupils are in the correct ability group and are sufficiently challenged. The lower ability groups tend to be smaller to ensure that the students get all the support they need in order to progress.
Key Stage 4 (Year 9, 10 and 11)
Exam Board: Edexcel GCSE Course
The GCSE Mathematics course is designed to develop the skills needed both for working life and continuing education. Students will need to be able to apply their knowledge to traditional Mathematics topics as well as complex real-life problems in order to succeed in the course. The course is divided into two tiers: Higher (Grades 9-4) and Foundation (Grades 5-1). Students sit one non-calculator and two calculator papers which covers topics in six areas of Mathematics: Number; Algebra; Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change; Geometry and Measures; Statistics; and Probability.
Students will be entered for the level that is appropriate for their ability which is determined by a variety of structured assessments throughout the course. During the autumn and spring terms in Year 11, pupils complete full trial exams to assist them in preparing for their final summer exam.
Key Stage 5
learning journey maths KS5.pdf
Exam Board: Edexcel GCE Course
This course is designed to develop and extend analytical ability and will improve cognitive & communication skills. It requires clear thinking and the development of specific ideas into generalised solutions.
A level Mathematics deals with highly abstract topics which require considerable imagination combined with the discipline of 'proof'. It also underpins virtually all the practical developments in science, IT and economics which have formed our modern world.
A Level Mathematics studies both Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics [Mechanics and Statistics]. Mechanics is linked to physics and builds on ideas of motion and forces, exploring how and why objects move. Statistics allows us to make sense of the world via analytical methods in order to draw reliable conclusions from sets of information.
Assessment is based on 3 examinations – 2 x Pure and 1 x Applied. There is no coursework for A Level Mathematics.
Further Mathematics is a separate A level qualification offered to the most able Mathematicians, which develops a deeper and broader understanding of mathematical concepts.
This course requires completion of the Mathematics course in the first two terms of Yr12. The Further Mathematics content then begins in the summer term which covers Further Core Pure Mathematics and Further Applied Mathematics.
The Assessment is based on 4 examinations: 2 Core Pure, 1 Statistics and 1 Mechanics papers. There is no coursework for A Level Further Mathematics.
Success and Achievements
Pending
Talented mathematicians in years 7-13 are entered for individual and team Maths Challenges that are run by the UK Mathematics Trust. Over 4000 schools from across the country participate in these tests and over 100 Cardinal Wiseman pupils took part in 2020. The Maths department also runs exam intervention classes for Years 11-13 and enrichment trips for A Level and KS4 students.