Maths
Subject Overview
“It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul” Sofia Vasilyevna Kovalevskaya
The concept of mathematics is an amazing achievement of human kind. It has provided us with an insight and explanation into the way the world works, helped us to develop technology and medicine and is worthy of study as a subject in its own right. Within the field of mathematics you can find beauty as well as logic, chaos as well as structure and poetry as well as science.
No matter whom you are; there is a strand of mathematics that could inspire, excite and challenge you as you seek to make your contribution to the world – either within mathematics itself or used as an application within a separate field.
The study of mathematics will develop you as a person, helping you to improve your analytical, communication and problem solving skills – each very desirable in the working world.
Rene Descartes said “I think, therefore I am”. What do you think you could be and therefore what will you become?
KS3
In KS3, students will follow the White Rose mastery curriculum. They will develop their skills in the six key areas: Number, Algebra, Ratio, Proportion and rates of change, Geometry and measures, Probability and Statistics.
The focus is for students to build on prior learning and to develop a deeper understanding and mastery of different mathematical skills as well as how these relate to different areas of Mathematics. The use of manipulatives, both visual and pictorial, allow students to build confidence in the reasoning of the Mathematics before moving on to more abstract problem solving ideas within the curriculum.
KS4
Students will study two courses in KS4.
They will follow the 9-1 OCR GCSE mathematics course, which is based upon 3 linear examinations each of 90 mins: 2 calculator papers and 1 non-calculator.
They will also study the 9-1 Edexcel GCSE statistics course, which is based upon 2 linear examinations each of 90 mins. This will be studied and completed in year 10.
There is also the opportunity for the most-able to study a Further Mathematics course and for those at a lower level to study functional skills.
KS5
We have two courses available at KS5.
Students who achieve a grade 7 or above at GCSE have the opportunity to follow the Edexcel A level mathematics course, which is based upon 3 examinations: two which examine the core content and one which examines the Statistics and Mechanics element of the course.
Students who achieve a grade 4 or above at GCSE have the opportunity to study the Level 3 AQA Core Mathematics course. This course focuses on mathematics in real life contexts, so students will learn to manipulate statistics and make financial calculations – such as tax and national insurance.
There is also an opportunity for the Core Mathematics students to study an Accounting course in a subsequent year to further develop their real life application of mathematics.
Higher Education Links and Career Opportunities
Studying mathematics to GCE level will open the door to careers in accountancy, finance, statistics, computer programming, engineering, medicine, psychology, architecture, dentistry and teaching among others.
In short, there is no real barrier to what you can do with Mathematics.
